Merlot, like Sauvignon Blanc is not my favourite red wine grape, but after being pleasantly surprised by The Ned Sauvignon Blanc I decided to give this a go. At nearly £10 a bottle a wine needs to be good… And I liked this – again I was pleasantly surprised. I do feel however that I can do slightly better for the price.

Tasting notes: Soft tannins make for easy drinking, but this was an interesting wine with a lingering finish. Some notes of spice.

Region of Origin – Hawkes Bay
Wine Colour – Red
Price – £9.75
Where do I get it from? – Majestic, Asda (widely available).
Current Vintage – 2016
Producer – Oyster Bay
Type of Closure – Screwcap
Bottle size – 750ml
Grape – 100% Merlot
Country – New Zealand
Points – 89
Food Pairings: good on it’s own, with red meats or mild cheeses.