Merlot Blend Wine

Seductive, accessible, Merlot-rich blend

Easy drinking, Bordeaux-style red without the price tag.

A custom-blended claret, delightfully accessible – perfect at family gatherings

An attractive, characterful wine from the far north of the Médoc, an innovative blend which attains optimal balance.

An accessible, food-friendly style, this has elegance, grace and richness – a fine ambassador for both the vintage and the appellation

An accessible, supple and classic Pomerol - one of the most celebrated Bordeaux sub-regions.

Manoir de Gay 2014

“Barry White”, as this 7 hectare estate is affectionately known at C&B, is a triumph and one of the great values. Huge colour, deepest red to the rim and with a dark, sinewy, pungent perfume of red and black fruits, this wine offers a palate that is sweetly intense, nicely balanced with firm, fresh but supple structure and really fine length.

An attractive, dark and deep garnet red, the wine has an intense and precise nose that opens on delicate aromas of spices, roses and plums macerated in spirits. Some roasted, toasted notes appear with airing. From a supple and highly refined attack, the mid-palate rapidly emerges on smooth, patrician tannins enhanced by a youthful freshness. The fruit, already there in the background, comes into its own, giving a harmonious, long and opulent finish.

Having tasted this Dior family-owned wine over many years, it was this 2016 offering, under Dominique LauretMestreguilhem, that finally made us put a toe in the water. 90% Merlot, usefully old vines (35 years) and a fine gravelled soil with some clay have combined to make a super wine in 2016. Profound ruby colour. The nose is darkly fruited, smoky, even sexily fruited. The palate is spicily rich with grainy tannins but avoids the rough trade element through plump, fresh fruit and judicious use of oak. Fine length as well.

Chateau de Bel-Air 2016

The second wine of Château Gazin, this is one of the very greatest values in Pomerol.

Louis Mitjavile produces this from vines planted at the end of the Saint Emilion limestone ridge. Cool soils warrant late harvesting and create great intensity

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, in a terrific year. Creamy, almost linseeded nose, powerful and red fruited. This is a big, even burly wine with big extract but fruit well in support, a chewy concentration and a powerful, fresh finish. This Bourgneuf combines a great capacity for ageing and very attractive approachability in its youth.

Personally owned by Christian Moueix, this is one of the great, gravel soiled Pomerols - lots of charm. The nose offers hints of strawberry and damson whilst the palate has lovely balance, a lithe, silky structure with powder-fine tannins, freshness, purity and length. Lovely wine.