Complex aromas of tropical and ripe citrus fruit plus a discreet nutty character (15% of this cuvée is oak aged). The palate’s fresh acidity and mineral core give little indication of the heat of the ’15 vintage. As ever, this is a hugely winsome, approachable cuvée from a winemaker whose surname is wholly appropriate.
Will Heslop, Buyer. Berry Bros. & Rudd.

Fine, bright, pale yellow, the rich fruit is enlivened by a touch of baked apples. This is fairly powerful by Mâcon standards but has the necessary acidity to retain freshness. Drink 2017-2019.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Olivier, who normally picks after his neighbours, was out harvesting before them this year, starting at the end of August. The hot, dry wind in that period really concentrated both the sugars and the acidity in the grapes. Everything ripened rapidly so Olivier made sure to privilege his best terroirs, and completed the harvest in five fewer days than usual.

Fine, bright, light colour with a steely, chiselled nose. Not flamboyant but clearly concentrated. This grows beautifully on the palate, with a superb backbone, persistence. Fresh peaches but not exotic. Feels like it comes from somewhere senior in the Côte d'Or. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Poor spring with difficult flowering, though this varied from one vineyard to another. Old vines suffered worse. The reds were later to flower, with better results, and for the first time were picked after the whites, which needed to be harvested quickly before rot set in. The balance of the whites has ended up quite similar to 2012, with the same acidity but the fruit more exuberant in style. One technical note on quality: Olivier presses his whites for much longer now, which intensifies the dry extract and will preserve longevity.

A pale straw colour, this has impressive depth of flavour to the nose which is complex with white fruit and a little oak in the background. There is considerable weight on the palate with a tantalising toastiness and notable length. This cuvée has excellent ageing potential. Drink 2019-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

This is such a fine-boned, elegant wine, even in a warm vintage like 2015. The nose is quite closed for the time being, with a steely, almost herbaceous character. The palate shows tremendous concentration, suggesting an impressive capacity to age.
Will Heslop - Wine Buyer

Olivier, who normally picks after his neighbours, was out harvesting before them this year, starting at the end of August. The hot, dry wind in that period really concentrated both the sugars and the acidity in the grapes. Everything ripened rapidly so Olivier made sure to privilege his best terroirs, and completed the harvest in five fewer days than usual. 

The average age of the vines is around 45-years-old and they receive the Merlin tender loving care treatment, with judicious maturation in barrel for 15 months. This is a beautiful wine which is already delicious, with lovely gentle perfume, mouth-filling fruit and a clean crisp finish. 
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

The wizard of the Mâconnais has produced a great range of wines in 2010 from his 14 hectare domaine, supplemented by some purchased grapes from certain appellations such as Pouilly-Fuissé. There are few more reflective and meticulous producers in the Mâconnais than the Merlins, who form a great partnership with Olivier’s nervous energy supported by Corinne’s unflagging calm.

The limestone plateau above the Merlin’s house is a prime site, slow to ripen but delivering a wine of spectacular concentration and ageing potential. The 2012 has an amazingly dense nose with a little well judged wood, 20% new for the first year in barrel. There’s a glorious weight of fruit to this, some lemon acidity, though the detail is hiding a bit in its youth. Not just a Mâcon wine but one of Burgundy’s great whites.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

An outstanding Macon white from my favourite producer in the region. This simply over delivers; full and rich, the concentration and depth will come as a pleasant surprise. There’s a touch of toasty oak on the nose, hints of hazelnut and fine lemony acidity. The quality and ageing potential belie the very reasonable price.
Martyn Rolph - Private Account Manager

Olivier and Corinne Merlin have been running their small domaine in the village of La Roche Vineuse for 25 years now, with superb attention to detail in the vineyards enabling them to make outstanding wines year in, year out. For Olivier, 2012 is a beautifully balanced vintage, with natural alcohol levels between 12.5% and 13.5%, and while yields are on the low side, the picture is much less catastrophic than in the Côte de Beaune. Olivier has been cutting back on the new wood, with most cuvées now receiving between 10 and 20%.