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.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  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

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.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  Exotic notes with plenty of spice — particularly anise and black pepper. Plenty of juicy raspberry and smoked meat on the palate. Complex and delicious.

  Food pairing: Korean BBQ

This classic Condrieu, assembled from several Viognier vines, bears the trademark of François Merlin’s taste: not too cloying and sweet, with vivacity and minerality.

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  Colin Talcroft

  Suggestive of white peaches and melon with sappy scents and something a little more pungent in the background—hints of spice—along with straightforward fruit. Very dry on the palate, despite a somewhat fleshy decadence. Full-bodied, pungent, strong, and spicy, yet with clean, sappy flavors. Intense but with finesse. Protracted, spicy finish. Ready to drink now but probably will keep nicely through around 2016.

  Food pairing: Pasta primavera in a light cream sauce, light curry dishes, the local goat cheese "Rigotte de Condrieu"

This classic Condrieu, assembled from several Viognier vines, bears the trademark of François Merlin’s taste: not too cloying and sweet, with vivacity and minerality.

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  Colin Talcroft

  A pretty, medium gold color. A glassful of exuberance—the nose overflowing with butterscotch, peaches, white flowers, and apricots. Intense and buttery on the palate, yet restrained at the same time. Rich but dry. Opulent but understated. A little earthy as well. Not as expansive on the palate as on the nose, but still seductive. Enjoy now.

  Food pairing: Apéritif; light herb-scented dishes, including pastas with fresh peas, beans or other legumes; rich fish or shellfish dishes, including scallops and lobster dishes; roasted root vegetables; Condrieu often pairs surprisingly well with mild curry dishes

The domaine’s top cuvée, this is François Merlin’s “keeping wine”, the one he takes out to show off to guests. “A definite cut above” Merlin’s other Condrieu, according to Rhône expert Livingstone-Learmonth.

• 

  Deborah Adeyanju

  Sweet spice predominates on the nose. The palate is rich and heady, with intensely concentrated stone fruit and floral flavors leading to a dry finish characterized by chalky mineral notes.

  Food pairing: Thai food; fruit tarts

The domaine’s top cuvée, this is François Merlin’s “keeping wine”, the one he takes out to impress his guests. “A definite cut above” Merlin’s other Condrieu, according to Rhône expert Livingstone-Learmonth.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  This wine has a definite barrel smell at first, lots of vanilla and some toast. As it opens up, the stonefruit starts to show. This is a dry-style wine but it is not crisp — it is robust and intense.

  Food pairing: Lobster

Originating from the Cognet lieux-dit, this Syrah is a robust yet elegant Côte Rôtie. The 2010 vintage is considered one of the best vintages in Côte-Rôtie since the legendary vintage of 1978.

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  Colin Talcroft

  It’s old-fashioned to compare wine to women, but this extraordinarily delicious wine reminded me of a beauty I once knew who had done years of aikido—mesmerizing but with an aura of authority stemming from her long training. The 2010 François Merlin Côte-Rôtie is a similarly quiet powerhouse in a beautifully elegant wrapper. Deep purple, redolent of violets and perfumed with wood, peaches, toast, cinnamon buns, and an undercurrent of iodine seemingly wafting in from the ocean. Vibrant, powerful, and youthful yet surprisingly delicate with fine-grained tannins masking a deep core of intense, layered fruit. Seductive and delicious already, but likely to improve for another decade or more.

  Food pairing: Steak with black pepper, olives, or shiitake or porcini mushrooms; venison; duck; other game or fowl—pigeon, perhaps?; terrine; grilled eggplant; lamb; veal chops with morels

Originating from the Cognet lieu-dit, this Syrah is a robust yet elegant Côte Rôtie. One of our most stunning wines, we bring out this bottle whenever we want to dazzle a guest or a friend!

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  Colin Talcroft

  A reticent nose soon opens up to reveal seductive, musky meat aromas, with stewed fruit scents and floral undertones. Has real presence on the palate — rich and chocolaty with hints of cayenne. Muscular tannins veil a sweet core of underlying fruit. Already an attractive wine, but a couple more years more will show it at its best. Decant it and take it slowly if you can’t help drinking it young.

  Food pairing: Lamb; sausages; grilled or barbecued meat; pungent stews; pepper steak; dishes flavored with olives