La Porte des Princes Merlot 2018

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 Merlot is the Rhône, where Syrah and Grenache hold sway. But award winning winemaker Thierry Ferlay has shown that, in fact, Merlot works beautifully in his local vineyards, not far from Châteauneuf. He has created a wonderfully soft, silky red here, with deep plum and cherry fruit and a note of peppery spice. Great for sipping on its own, it’s also the sort of red you should always keep on stand-by for tasty family suppers such as sausages and mash or shepherd’s pie.