2010 Château Troplong Mondot, St Emilion, Bordeaux

The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.

Château Troplong Mondot is a wine estate in St Émilion on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Ranked a Premier Grand Cru Classé B in 2006, the estate occupies an enviable terroir atop St Émilion’s famed limestone plateau.