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The Principauté d’Orange lies just south of Châteauneuf du Pape, home to the classic Rhône grapes Shiraz and Grenache. This groundbreaking red shows that Merlot can produce stunning reds here too – with deep plummy fruit and extra spicy warmth.
The Principauté d’Orange lies just south of Châteauneuf du Pape, home to the classic Rhône grapes Shiraz and Grenache. This groundbreaking red shows that Merlot can produce stunning reds here too – with deep plummy fruit and extra spicy warmth.
Tasting notes
Silky textured with plum and cherry fruit and a note of spice
Aroma
Smoky red fruits with a hint of herbal garrigue
Merlot is the great grape of Saint Emilion and Pomerol, on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, where it produces some of the world's most sought after wines. These days, it’s a star performer in nearly every wine producing nation across the globe. The one place you wouldn’t expect to find it is the Rhône, where Syrah and Grenache hold sway. Award winning winemaker Thierry Ferlay has shown that, in fact, it works beautifully in his local vineyards, not far from Châteauneuf. He has created a wonderfully soft, silky red with deep plum and cherry fruit and a note of peppery spice thanks to the warmer climate. Great for sipping on its own, it’s the sort of red you should always keep on stand-by for family suppers such as sausages and mash or shepherd’s pie.