Nicole Merlot
Nicole Merlot is one of a collection of wines from a producer in The Languedoc Roussillon region. The producer traces their ancestry back to the 17th century, when Nicole, the Marquise des Anges (Marquise of the Angels) created a charity to adopt and care for local orphans. These wines continue to carry her name as a tribute to her legend.
This bottle is one of their best selling wines. A typical example of a southern France Merlot. Perfect for North East Chinese food at lunch or as an evening meal.
Appellation: IGP Pays d’Oc
Grapes: 100% Merlot
ABV: 13.5%
Soil: These grapes are grown on a mixture of chalk, limestone and gravel based soils.
Weather conditions: The peak growing season (between May and August) is very dry and the majority of annual rainfall occurs during the winter. In the Languedoc Region, the plains area is the most arid and hottest region of France. The region’s Mediterranean climate is very conducive to growing a large amount of a wide variety of grapes, with vintners in the area excelling in mass production. The average annual temperature is 57 °F (14 °C).
Wine making / Ageing: Grapes harvested at their optimum ripeness. Direct pressing or skin contact. Must is clarified by Floatation. Temperature controlled fermentation done in vats. This wine is matured on lees with regular stirring. Filtration and bottling with our own facilities.
Tasting: This wine should be decanted. This wine starts off with an unmistakable Merlot nose – strawberry and raspberry flavours contrasting an evident acidity. This is a well structured wine with softer more elegant tannins. The taste imparts classic expectations of a varietal merlot wine. Medium bodied, firm length of taste and just the right amount of acidity to keep this wine firmly at number 2 on the CBS rating for dryness.
Food Pairing: Nicole Merlot should be served at 16-18°C. For food pairing, this is a great bottle for North East China Cuisine. Shandong style food pairs equally well. For western style food pairings we would recommend dishes with game meat or lamb.
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