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La Rochelle Merlot

La Rochelle Merlot Wine Details
Price: $18.00 per bottle

Description: Tom employed “medium-plus toast” American and Eastern European oak for the aging process. The wine spent two years in the wood, softening and picking-up the complex vanilla-smoke-spice attributes of these exotic barrels. This Merlot is one of the finest ever made at our historic winery. While certainly ready to enjoy now, it should reward patient cellaring with additional development in the bottle over the next six to eight years…

Varietal Definition
Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.


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