About this WINE
Chateau Caillou les Martins
Merlot
The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.
In St.Emilion and Pomerol it withstands the moist clay rich soils far better than Cabernet grapes, and at it best produces opulently rich, plummy clarets with succulent fruitcake-like nuances. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of hedonistically rich Merlot wines at their very best. It also plays a key supporting role in filling out the middle palate of the Cabernet-dominated wines of the Médoc and Graves.
Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in California, Chile and Northern Italy.
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Description
Lussac is one of the lesser known “satellite” regions of St Emilion, and it’s wines are usually terrific value. It’s deep clay soils are ideal for Merlot vines, and give rich, hearty wine for relatively early drinking. Caillou Les Martin is tiny (8 ha) estate in family ownership. The warmth of the 2009 vintage is clearly evident here. Deeply coloured, this is rich and enticing on the nose - full of bramble fruit and spicy oak. The palate is well endowed with chunky, blackberry fruit, and has good tannic structure on the finish. A hearty wine with lots of character. 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc
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