80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc from Lussac-Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France.
SRP of $18 and available for around $14. Imported by Allied Beverage Group. Sample submitted for review.
From the winery:
"A solid balance of oak and dusty tannins combine with notes of lavender, minerals, plum and wood in this rich, full wine with a strong cherry finish.
Food Pairings: Filet Mignon, Grilled Vegetables, Lasagne, Roast Duck, Steak Tartare, Veal Loin
14.0% Alcohol"
Merlot can be a tough sell these days, but not all Merlot is created equal. And lately we've been finding some eye-openingly good ones coming out of Bordeaux. It began with the Chateau La Fleur Morange Mathilde 2010 from Saint-Emilion, which we dubbed a "Merlot With Moxie". In fact, liked it so much that we gave it a spot on our latest Top 10 Red Wines Under $20. Today we continue with another excellent wine, this time from Lussac-Saint-Emilion, one of the satellites of the prestigious Saint-Emilion.
The 2010 Chateau Des Landes Lussac-Saint-Emilion begins with pleasant aromas of black cherry, oak, plum, a little cedar and even a whiff of balsam wood. The wine tastes rich on the palate with more plum and black cherry along with a good dose of oak that continues into the dry, dusty tannin filled finish. This wine is probably still a bit young so give it plenty of air if drinking it now, or hold onto it for another year or two and enjoy it even more. And if you generally stay away from Merlot, this is definitely a wine to try -- if I was tasting it blind I would have guessed it had a lot more than 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in it.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
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