2009 Marsau

Medium ruby-red. Pure aromas and flavors of black cherry, menthol and smoky tobacco lifted by a floral quality. Supple and gentle, with attractive sweetness and impressive volume for the price. Juicy and well-delineated too, without any rough edges. Finishes with dusty, tongue-coating tannins and nice length. A merlot like this in this price range would make a popular restaurant wine.

A Merlot wine displaying loads of mocha and black cherry fruit, with hints of tobacco leaf and coffee, this wine is dense, pure, medium to full-bodied, fleshy and quite seductive in its ripeness and silkiness. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

Very deep crimson. Not much scent. Very opulent on the palate – sweet, creamy chocolate cream. Not that heavy so not full-on Napa Valley-style but a sort of Napa Valley cadet. Dry finish. But very long and pretty alcoholic. Just a bit attenuated. (JR)