Critics reviews
Neal Martin - 28/07/2017
About this WINE
Chateau Rocheyron
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
The 2011 Chteau Rocheyron, a blend of 20% Cabernet Franc and 80% Merlot, came in at 13.9% alcohol, much less than the debut 2010. It has a clean and generous bouquet with quite elegant red cherry and strawberry fruit, although I would like to see more personality here. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight gaminess on the entry, fine tannin, a little grainy in texture with a savory, almost meaty finish that I like. Probably ready to drink now, it should give drinking pleasure over the next four or five years. Tasted March 2017.
Neal Martin - 28/07/2017
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