2019 La Dame de Onze Heures, St Emilion, Bordeaux
About this WINE
Vincent & Beatrice Rapin
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
Merlot makes up most of the 2019 blend with some cabernet franc adding further depth and balance to this wine. Beatrice and Vincent aim to do most of their work in the vineyard, so that little intervention is needed in the cellar. Large tuns and Italian jars are preferred over the classical 225L barriques during maturation, allowing the wine's purity and expressive character to shine through. Plum, blackcurrant and dark cherry combine with a touch of cedar to create a ripe and punchy palate. A wine that can be enjoyed in its youth but will also improve with age.
Oliver Hallworth, Buying Assistant, Berry Bros. & Rudd (November 2022)
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