Most people have come across this brand from Chile. Cono Sur means 'Southern Cone' which refers to that geographical part of South America. It also happens to conveniently sound like 'connoisseur'. Images of an eccentric all knowing old wine buff, stroking his long moustache with approval at the generous drop of Chilean sunshine in a glass.

I have already mentioned Concha y Toro as being the largest wine producer in Chile, so how does Cono Sur measure up? Well, you will be unsurprised to know that Cono Sur is a subsidiary of Concha y Toro, sigh....

I do not know how much detailed control Concha y Toro have, but Cono Sur wines definitely have their own character, a shame they are not entirely independent.

A while ago I purchased a Cono Sur Reserva Merlot 2006 and thought it was a very nice full wine (for around £8.00). Classy packaging. The same unusual tapered shaped bottle as Little House wine.

Now to the bottle in the title. This is the 'other' Cono Sur Merlot which is screw top, less impressive packaging and much cheaper (£5.99 a bottle). Same strength (13.5%) and almost the identical blend of grapes as its more expensive sibling. The main difference is the age and quality of the wine, hence the more recent vintage of 2008 and the lack of the word reserva on the bottle. This makes an enormous impact on taste.

It is very easy to be blinded by the brand and not look at the small print on the label. That slick Cono Sur lettering together with the 'MERLOT' grape variety boldly inscribed draws the eye away from the more important details of the bottle (in that you have just picked up the Skoda not a VW).

One of the only times even the most inexperienced of wine shoppers seem sharp on label contents is distinguishing sparking wine from Champagne.

A good friend recently tried and liked the more expensive reserva and then mistakenly bought the 'other' cheaper Cono Sur Merlot without realising it was not same wine, until it was too late. Easily done. After trying both myself I can assure you that the £2.00 extra per bottle for the reserva makes all the difference. That said, Cono Sur Merlot 2008 is a perfectly good, reliable, safe, easy drinking wine which is a great value purchase.

Nothing wrong with a Skoda.

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