Domaine de Chazalis Merlot ‘Cuvee Richard’ 2009

Regular readers of my website and particularly my pieces on red wines will have become attuned to my taste and aversion to overly oaked and wines strongly influenced by their tannins. So, here I am recommending an old world wine made with the Merlot grape and a delight to drink, either on its own or accompanying a meal.

The story of this particular wine is a simple one. This is a small family winery (father and son) who have been making wine for just four generations. In this area, the south of Ardeche, (Languedoc Rouissillon) France, the Merlot grape is well known and highly respected, with just about all the local restaurants stocking it. My recommended supplier reports that this wine is aged in one year-old oak barrels from a renowned Bordeaux winery and maintain that it is the “best Merlot they have found (sub £10) with soft, rounded dark fruits and silky tannins – akin to a good Pomerol. It is still young but benefits from decanting an hour or two before serving”.

The Merlot grape is the most widely grown grape variety in France, most notably in the Bordeaux Region and, while variable in style, I must say that I am delighted to have been introduced to this delicious wine.

Supplier: Winestore.co.uk tel. 0845 058 0021
Case of 6 bottles, Price: 59.70 (incl VAT at 20%)