Merlot

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.

Made from 100% premium Merlot sourced from selected properties around Bordeaux, Ronan by Clinet offers a taste of their magnificent Grand Vin at a fraction of the price. Savour rich blackcurrant and red cherry fruits with a dash of subtle spice and balancing fine tannins. A perfect partner for rich red meats and strong firm cheeses.

Ch. Teyssier is located in the tiny wine appellation of Montagne-St Emilion. The vineyard dates back to the 15th century and surrounds a charming 18th century château. The vineyard covers 21 hectares on a clay/limestone hillside to the north-east of St Emilion, and in the early 1990s received considerable investment, with much work done the vineyard and the cellar. As a result, the quality of wines improved exponentially.

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

A modern, fruit driven blend of Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Franc, sourced from the Bécot family’s three Right bank properties: Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château La Gomerie and Château Joanin. L’Instant is characterised by bright, ripe black fruit aromas, supple tannins and – in keeping with the ’14 vintage – fresh acidity. Drink 2016 to 2019.

It is with great delight that we are able to offer 2012 Ch. Marsau for sale en primeur. Tasty and opulent, there is a sweetness to the cherry fruit palate which is replaced by well-structured and smooth tannins on the long finish, especially for a wine of this level. Well-made wine indeed, it will provide early drinking and enormous satisfaction.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Pomerol by Ch. Feytit-Clinet, Bordeaux
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.

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.

Deep garnet in colour, with a touch of glycerine in the glass. The nose expands with air and shows warm, bramble fruit aromas with a touch of spicy oak. The palate is lovely and soft, with no hard edges. Plenty of ripeness, but with a pleasing, savoury finish.
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.

The 2012 Dragon de Quintus has a simple bouquet: briary, redcurrant and cranberry leaf, a touch of undergrowth coming through but never mustering the vigor one would have expected. The palate is medium-bodied and actually demonstrates more composure and harmony than the aromatics suggest. The tannins are quite fine and it feels silky smooth towards the finish. It is just the nose that lets the side down, but it does seem to improve, albeit developing an almost Chianti-like personality! Tasted January 2016.
Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate #227, October 2016

The dominant commercial force in Pomerol and St Emilion is the négociant company of Jean-Pierre Moueix. They own a clutch of prime wine estates, including Chx Trotanoy, Hosanna, Lagrange as well as the Napa Valley’s Dominus, and – of course – Ch. Lafleur-Gazin. Today the company is under the control of Jean-Pierre’s son, Christian.

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.

The 2013 Larcis Ducasse exhibits a deep colour with a touch of purple. At first the nose is dubdued, but slowly opens up to offer hints of glossy kirsch and delicious sweet fruit. Medium bodied in the mouth, the sweet cherry combines with scented dark floral notes and light tannins and  crunchy red currents on the finish. This is a vintage that requires exceptional hard work in the vineyard and a light touch in the winery and the team at Larcis were committed to both. A pretty, medium term wines that should be drinking well from 2016+.

Now owned by Hubert de Bouard, this beautifully situated estate looks set to produce profound St.-Emilions. The 2011 boasts an opaque purple color along with copious blueberry and blackberry fruit notes interwoven with crushed rock and spring flower characteristics.

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

The 2013 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) offers impressive intensity given the growing season with crisp and pure dark cherries, raspberry coulis and subtle earthy bordering upon loamy scents. The oak here is nicely enmeshed and attests some clever winemaking in this challenging season. The palate is well balanced with a little chewiness on the entry. There is admirable weight here, even if I discerned more finesse and precision on the 2013 Pavie-Macquin. Still, this constitutes a sterling effort and it should give 10 to 15 years of pleasure, possibly longer.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate #227, Oct 2016

The 2011 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard offers a perfumed, floral bouquet of violets, incense, potpourri, lead pencil shavings and sweet black and blue fruits, with just a touch of volatile acidity adding lift to the aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, rich and nicely concentrated (especially in the vintage) on the palate, with plenty of tannin, it still has a youthful feel and should be at its best from 2018-2028.
Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate. 28th September 2016. 

Briar, black currant and licorice root notes form the core, with good energy to the briary grip. A tobacco lining runs through the finish. Shows good length and cut overall. Drink now through 2022. 1,303 cases made.
James Molesworth - winespectator.com, Nov 2016

Lively dark crimson. Very smart and complex on the nose - distinctively different. Really focused and rich but not sweet. Real lift and drive. So complete! Opulent on the nose but nothing remotely simple and sweet. Throbs with excitement.
Jancis Robinson. 7th April 2017. 

After the decadence of 2009 and 2010 this a far more restrained wine and that is not a bad thing at all. The nose offers an understated but complex bouquet of blueberry, plum and Asian spices and the freshness here really brings it all to life.

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

I love this wine, and if I had listened to my parents, studied and got a ‘proper’ job I might possibly have been able to afford to drink it! OK, let’s pretend I didn’t do the job that I love for a moment and look at this little tinker. There are very few wines in 2011 that are sexy, Ch. la Conseillante really is. It has curves, elegance, vibrancy and laser like cool precision that makes it one of the superstars of the vintage.

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

Alexandre Thienpont surprised us all this year: at one point he was contemplating not making any 'Grand Vin' at all, and then he made one of the undoubted stars of the vintage. Furthermore, he achieved this with a cepage made up of mainly Merlot - extraordinary in this vintage, and especially extraordinary from this vineyard, which used to be an island of Cabernet Franc in the middle of the Pomerol sea of Merlot. The only downside is that he has had to sacrifice most of his crop, and has therefore produced tiny quantities. They are bound to be snapped up.
Simon Berry - Chairman