Wine Region: Bordeaux - France

Grape: Merlot, Cabernet Franc and  Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting notes: "Very pleasant, with tobacco, mineral and plum. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a light finish." Wine Spectator

How to Enjoy:  This wine’s Merlot and Cabernet Franc flavors makes it flexible to pair with a variety of meat and  fish like tuna and salmon. Classically, these blends are paired with with grilled foods, as well as dishes that could be described as earthy. Other good pairings might be soft cheese, smoked meats, and charcuterie.

About the winery: Most Bordeaux aficionados will be very familiar with Pessac-Léognan stars, Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. However, next door lies Château Les Carmes, named after the monks (les carmes) who owned it for 200 years. It came under significant new ownership in 2010, when Patrice Pichet bought it. He has since built a lavish, new, gravity-fed cellar and extended the vineyards considerably. Unusually three quarters of the grapes go into Le C and, of those, nearly half is Merlot. This gives the wine an intense fruit charm, while partial bunch fermentation (ie with stalks on) gives the wine a fresh sappiness.

More about Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion here...