Merlot
Prices:
Viña Doña Javiera has a history of winemaking that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The family was one of the first to recognise the potential of the Maipo Valley and begun planting vines there in 1942. Located at El Monte, 50 kilometres west of Santiago, with exposure to cooling Pacific breezes, this vineyard is blessed with a superb climate for viticulture.
Doña Javiera has produced a smooth, plummy wine for us in 2015. Sweet raspberries and a hint of smoke add to the damson notes on the nose. The palate has good concentration with macerated red cherries coming to the fore alongside bramble fruit. The wine is warming but a leafy freshness balances out the whole. This is an easy-drinking, exceptionally fruit-driven wine which is eminently drinkable.
Bottle
£9.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl276cs
Bottle
£13.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Wines at this “petit château” level from the outstanding 2010 vintage are now at their prime. Here there are lovely evolved notes of plum and cedar, and a generous, neatly structured palate is driven by the equilibrium and exceptional conditions of the year.
An over-achieving estate for a number of years now, this dense purple wine exhibits oodles of creme de cassis and licorice, hints of subtle barbecue smoke and toast, terrific texture and a long, succulent, fleshy finish. It is not all that dissimilar from the 2009 in terms of its flamboyance and drinkability, although I suspect that analytically the pH is slightly lower and the tannins a bit higher than those of its older sibling. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate# 205 - Feb 2013
Bottle
£14.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl40cs
Bottle
£14.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl355cs
Bottle
£17.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl4cs
Pomerol produces arguably the finest Merlot-based wines in the world; renowned for displaying both elegance and intensity. One of two Right Bank communes to be represented in our own-label range (the other being St Emilion), this example is made for us by Ch. Feytit-Clinet. Previously part of the Moueix stable, the property is now in the hands of Jeremy Chasseuil, who has been producing outstanding wines here since the 2000 vintage.
This wine is suave and polished, with a nose of plum and chocolate, and a balanced, supple, yet defined finish. The wine is a blend of 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. Aging takes place in oak barrels according to the subtleties of each individual parcel.
Bottle
£21.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl296cs
The 2014 vintage of our own St Emilion comes from a marvellous Grand Cru property managed by Alain Vauthier, co-owner of Ch. Ausone. A predominantly Merlot blend, this is a delicious example of the region from the team at Ch. Fonbel.
The nose is bursting with bramble fruit and mocha notes, while the palate is rich, velvety and absolutely seamless. This will age well for a year or two, but is drinking beautifully now. Match it to roast lamb, a rib of beef and fine, hard cheeses.
Bottle
£22.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl248cs
Philip Moulin - Fine Wine Buyer
Although an old property, 2011 was the first vintage made by Marc Rivoal and his wife, Stephanie de Bouard (who owns and manages Ch. Angelus). Situated on the flat plane to the west of St Emilion, the estate is meticulously managed and we believe that this classic St Emilion is destined for great things.
Bottle
£24.50
Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate #227, October 2016
Bottle
£24.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl3cs
Now entering its eagerly-awaited prime, this strikes a perfect balance between classicism and fruit-driven approachability. Laroque is a sizeable estate, but less than half of its 61 hectares is deemed worthy of inclusion in this, the Grand Vin. It's a blend of 87 percent Merlot and 11 percent Cabernet Franc, with just a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon, from the estate's older vines, which are overlooked by one of the Right Bank's most equisite chateau.
Will Heslop - BBR Buyer
Bottle
£32.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl440cs
In 2013, there is a welcome aromatic perfume with a slight sweetness is followed by a robust palate of some fruit, predominantly plums and redcurrants. Tannins are present and noticeable, alongside a refreshing acidity on the finish.
Bottle
£33.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl10cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl13cs
Already complex with good purity, medium body, and a finish dominated by acidity as well as a chalky character, it will benefit from several years in the cellar as it is one of the more closed and backward 2011s I tasted. It should drink well for 10-15 years thereafter.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Apr 2014
Bottle
£43.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate #227, Oct 2016
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl6cs
Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate. 28th September 2016.
Bottle
£55.00
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl6cs
Bottle
£72.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl10cs
Like all the top Right banks there is such perfect balance of textured fruit, freshness and delicate touch of oak. There is a finesse and minerality to the palate with length and freshness to the finish. It is top drawer St Emilion and a perfect counter to the two previous vintages.
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl6cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
When we cram ourselves back into the minibus between Châteaux tastings we always have a few minutes to chew things over, comparing and contrasting our notes. When we left Ch. la Conseillante there was a revered silence for a few minutes and one of my colleagues said “Scarlett Johanssen”. “Close”, I corrected “Salma”. What followed was a collective, sage like nodding of agreement from the bus and we moved on. Superb this year, as it is indeed most.
Simon Staples, Berrys’ Fine Wine Director
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl9cs
Bottle
£93.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl25cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl2cs
Simon Berry - Chairman
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl13cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl12cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team
I love the weight to this wine thanks to the soft and buttery Merlot and 30 year old vines. The fruit is succulent with a richness we have come to expect from Chateau Canon. Patience is required but you will be rewarded with elegance, freshness and a brightness of fruit. 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.
Laura Atkinson, Private Account Manager
Bottle 12 x 75cl3cs
Case price (Magnum 3 x 150cl)
Magnum 3 x 150cl3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl4cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl11cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team
Bottle
£320.00
Max Lalondrelle - Fine Wine Buying Director
Case price (Bottle 3 x 75cl)
Bottle 3 x 75cl15cs
Case price (Bottle 3 x 75cl)
Bottle 3 x 75cl8cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl3cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl1cs
Adam Bilbey - Sales Director
Case price (Bottle 3 x 75cl)
Bottle 3 x 75cl2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
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.