French Red Rhone Wine, Domaine François Merlin 2011 Saint-Joseph
  • French Red Rhone Wine, Domaine François Merlin 2011 Saint-Joseph
  • French Red Rhone Wine, Domaine François Merlin 2011 Saint-Joseph

Domaine François Merlin
2011 Saint-Joseph

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This is a robust Saint Joseph, strong and firm, particularly when compared to Pichon’s Saint Joseph. We advise giving it a little time in the cellar before drinking.

  • An easy-drinking, cool climate Syrah with tangy raspberry notes and good balance. Slight charcoal aromas on the nose, but raspberry is the key player. A nice wine to have on hand to serve with grilled lamb or other meat.

    Food pairing: Lamb kebobs

  • Blood, roasted meat, tapenade, black truffles, coffee grounds, pepper and other savory spices, boysenberry and other dark fruits, and something earthy combine to create a complex, evolving nose. Full-bodied, with slightly jammy blueberry and other dark fruit flavors, this wine coats the mouth with violets, pungent spice, and gamey, meaty flavors. Massive structure with a lengthy, fruity finish that builds in intensity then recedes, leaving concentrated blue and black fruit flavors lingering. A baby, but already stunning! A wine possibly at peak in 2019. Calls out for wild boar or other game.

    Food pairing: Game or wild boar

The Creator of This Wine

Domaine François Merlin

Domaine François Merlin

Heir not to a winemaker but to a chemical engineer, François Merlin studied agriculture and learned the work of the vines in the vineyards of René Rostaing. He planted his first vineyard -- in Condrieu -- in 1987, started making his own wines in 1999, and quickly became one of the “top names” in Condrieu (according to Rhône expert Livingstone-Learmonth). His son Laurent joined him in 2013.

Details
Producer:Domaine François Merlin
Region:Rhone
Year:2011
Maturity:2015-2020
Alcohol:12.5%
Bottle size:750ml
Color:Red
Varietal:Syrah
Flavors:Dark fruit, Spice, Earth
Body:Medium-Full
Soul:Fruit