Merlot

Chile has won many friends with its plump, ripe, supple reds. This delicious example comes from the Doña Javiera Estate which only produces wines using hand-harvested fruit from its own vineyards.

Well-structured Bordeaux with berry fruit and a touch of graphite on the nose. It's lovely and soft, with fresh fruit and a touch of spice on the palate, as well as excellent clarity. Medium bodied, smooth and well-balanced with fine tannins and a herbaceous note on the finish. No oak or malo-lactic fermentation means that the freshness and style of the wine shines through.

The little extra rounding from the Merlot adds a plumy mid-palate weight to this richly spicy and expressive wine. This really is splendid value; a very good choice to go with a mid-week supper, even, dare one suggest, although one does not necessarily endorse such things, to accompany a meal in front of the TV.

"...is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Falesco. It is a decidedly firm, vibrant Merlot that stands in stark contrast to the super-ripe, obvious Vitiano Rosso. Here the fruit is wonderfully precise and elegant. Jammy blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon, leather and crushed rocks are woven into a beautiful fabric. The French oak is layered very nicely, adding depth and flavor, but never overpowering the wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-17. " 92 WA

"...is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Falesco. It is a decidedly firm, vibrant Merlot that stands in stark contrast to the super-ripe, obvious Vitiano Rosso. Here the fruit is wonderfully precise and elegant. Jammy blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon, leather and crushed rocks are woven into a beautiful fabric. The French oak is layered very nicely, adding depth and flavor, but never overpowering the wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-17. " 92 WA

A lovely inky nose with a touch of graphite, but also a hint of florality.

Clean, minerally, fresh and pure, with fresh, black cherry fruit.

The Chateau lies east of St-Emillion. The wine is a blend of 75% Black Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. The vintage has a deep and dense purple colour. It is structured, highly developed and full in the mouth. This vintage is of rare elegance for 2007 and brings together, in perfect balance, the characters of the best vintages.

A Lalande-de-Pomerol that demonstrates nice concentration on the palate, fine tannins, vibrant freshness and lovely dark fruit

63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine full of juicy dark fruit and velvety tannins.

2nd wine of Chateau d'Issan

A Super Toscan and flagship of the Tolaini Estate; the complex nose opens up on the palate to display layers of generous fruit and fine tannins. Absolutely wonderful and a great pairing with Lasagne!
Grape variety - Merlot/ Cabernet Franc
Taste - red fruit,
Finish - fruity and refined

A superb vintage; the blackberry, raisin, plum and truffle flavours are set against a backdrop of velvety smooth tanins. Delicious with a simple roast chicken!

Grape variety - 80% Merlot/ 10% Cabernet Sauvignon/ 10% Cabernet Franc
Taste - spicy and peppery fruit, red berries, truffle
Finish - long and intense

This is a bit of a hidden gem, an underrated vintage which boasts, complex aromas, aristocratic richness on the palate and sweet tannins. Yum! Splendid with spicy rice dishes!

Grape variety - 65% Merlot/ 35% Cabernet Sauvignon
Taste - cherry, dark chocolate, pencil lead
Finish - long & refined

The 1998 Masseto is opulent and expansive, and offers ripe dark fruit along with secondary notes of tobacco. Tenuta dell'Ornellaia makes outstanding wines even in poor vintages - better than any other. Jenkins's favourite Italian!!!