Les Jamelles Merlot 2018 (1x150cl)

This Merlot wine is a fine expression of the Jamelles winemakers' approach to blending. It benefits from the qualities of the different terroirs that the grapes come from: the wines from the region of Nîmes, to the north, are complex with a note of terroir; those that come from the plains near Béziers are rich and fruity, those from the eastern part of the Aude Valley, near Carcassonne, are elegant and structured and, finally, those from the western Aude have lots of character and typicity. Average age of the vines: 10'-15 years. "Gobelet" (free standing) and "cordon de Royat" (trellised) pruning methods. Relatively low yields of about 50 hectolitres per hectare. There are two main types of soil: acid with pebbles in the valleys (giving a smoky flavour to the wines), and clay and limestone soils on the slopes (giving fatter wines).

The growers who work for "Les Jamelles" vinify the wines with Catherine, following a set of specifications that they work out together before the harvests, taking account of the specific types of soils, the character of the wines, the weather conditions throughout the year and the winery equipment. Results vary from one cellar to the next, which is precisely the aim. On the whole, the methods used to vinify the Merlot grapes are similar to the methods used in Bordeaux, and consist of relatively long maceration periods and a small amount of carbonic maceration for the fruit flavours. Part of the final blend is aged in oak barrels for 6 to 9 months.

- Appearance: Dark colour. This wine is very complex, rich, long and fat. - Nose: It displays aromas of crushed black fruits (blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries), jam and cooked fruits, as well as smoky scents (peat) and spicy perfumes (cinnamon, thyme). - Taste: This wine is round, rich and long-lasting on the palate ("velvety") with mature tannins on the finish. It is an attractive, well-balanced, easy-drinking wine. It can be laid down for 2 to 3 years.