Merlot | Blenheim Vintners

Fattoria le Pupille Saffredi

eve — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:02:25 +0000

“Elisabetta Geppetti took over her family’s Tuscan estate in her early 20s and transformed it into a benchmark for Morellino di Scansano. Her pioneering spirit led to the area’s first Super Tuscan, Saffredi, putting this corner of the Maremma firmly on the wine world’s radar.
Today, Le Pupille delivers both outstanding value Sangiovese and collectible bottlings, all marked by vibrant fruit and Tuscan authenticity. Elisabetta’s story proves what vision and determination can achieve in a glass.”

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto

eve — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:02:25 +0000

This Tuscan pioneer created Sassicaia, the revolutionary wine that earned Italy’s first single-estate DOC. What started as one man’s vision for Bordeaux varieties in Bolgheri changed Italian winemaking forever.
While Sassicaia remains their masterpiece, the estate’s Guidalberto and Le Difese offer the same signature balance at more approachable prices. Together, they showcase how one family’s ambition continues to shape modern Italian wine.

Château des Graviers Margaux Magnum

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:53:58 +0000

The Landry family owns 60ha of land, vineyards alternate with Landes forest as well as meadow and grassland where horses and cows graze peacefully. Christophe knows each parcel of his vineyard inside out, feeling closer to Burgundy in spirit than Bordeaux. Only the best lieux-dits are retained, he doesn’t believe in second wines, if a parcel isn’t good enough then he sells it on.
He returned to his family estate in Bordeaux in the mid-1990s, where he works tirelessly in the vineyard and the winery to create some of the best value for money wines around at all levels. His wines offer a clear, bright black cherry colour, a kernel of rich fruit with great depth, and superb texture with good freshness and marked mineral flavours. Very, very long on the finish. For drinking now to 2030+.

Château Lamarche Canon Canon-Fronsac

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:53:58 +0000

Château Lamarche Canon Canon-Fronsac is a refined Bordeaux wine from the prestigious Canon-Fronsac appellation. Crafted by Domaine Jean-Yves Millaire, this estate boasts a rich history dating back to the 1950s. The vineyards span 11 hectares of clay-limestone hillsides, with vines averaging 40 years old. This blend features 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec, aged for 12 months in barrels and 8 months in concrete vats. Expect a medium-bodied wine with savoury plum and herb notes, ideal for early enjoyment.

Château Rol Valentin Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:53:33 +0000

This tiny 7.3-hectare property has been referred to as a “”vin de garage””. Stéphane Derenoncourt has been consultant for many years and Rol Valentin is now one of the most sought-after Saint Emilion in Bordeaux. The wines are intense, deep and rich, and made in tiny quantities.
The wine is a blend of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec. Gentle punch downs and a 15 month period in barrel makes for an elegant style of Saint Emilion but one which ages beautifully.

Rocca di Frassinello

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:53:09 +0000

Rocca di Frassinello is a collaboration between Tuscany’s Castellare di Castellina and France’s Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite. This partnership combines Castellare’s expertise with Sangiovese and Lafite’s mastery of French varieties like Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. Located in Maremma, the estate benefits from Chianti-like soils, warmer temperatures, and cooling sea breezes, creating ideal conditions for balanced grape maturation. Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, Rocca di Frassinello produces wines that blend Italian tradition with French refinement, offering a distinctive experience that highlights the strengths of both winemaking cultures.

Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5°

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:52:44 +0000

Vega Sicilia, founded in 1864 in Ribera del Duero, is Spain’s most iconic winery, producing three renowned wines: Único, Único Reserva Especial, and Valbuena 5°. These wines, crafted from Tempranillo blended with Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, are celebrated for their exceptional quality and global prestige. Acquired by the Álvarez family in 1982, Vega Sicilia expanded its portfolio with Alión in Ribera del Duero, Pintia in Toro, Macán in Rioja (a venture with Edmond de Rothschild), and Oremus in Tokaj, Hungary. Today, Vega Sicilia continues to set benchmarks for Spanish fine wine through tradition and innovation.

Château Puynormond Montagne Saint-Emilion Half

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:48:27 +0000

Four generations of the Lamarque family have shaped this Saint-Émilion satellite estate since 1923, where pre-phylloxera Merlot vines still thrive on their amphitheater slopes.
Two expressions reveal their terroir: an oak-aged cuvée with depth and spice, and a vibrant unoaked version, both bursting with ripe red fruit and silky tannins. These are wines that marry approachability with cellar-worthy structure, offering the best of both worlds.

Château Tour Grand Faurie l’Efaurie Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:48:27 +0000

This estate’s vines span two terroirs: the Faurie plot (sandy, iron-rich soils) and old-vine parcels in Saint-Christophe des Bardes (clay-chalk). A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% resurgent Malbec.
Pesticide-free for years, the vineyard uses grass cover and sheep to maintain biodiversity. Transitioning to organic, it holds HVE certification.
With restrained maceration and ageing, the wine delivers a classic, medium-bodied Saint-Émilion, perfect with roast meats or duck.

Château Tour des Termes Cru Bourgeois Supérieur Saint-Estèphe

eve — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:48:27 +0000

This Saint-Estèphe estate takes its name from an ancient tower on the Les Termes plot, part of a Gallo-Roman site. With roots dating to 1678, it’s one of the appellation’s rare multi-century family estates.
Today, Jean Anney, son Christophe and granddaughter Aurélie continue the legacy. Their wine stands apart in Saint-Estèphe for its uncommon elegance, achieved through mature vines, Merlot-dominant plantings, prime terroir selection, and sustainable practices.