Author: Dirk Chan
Our online feature this week is the Le Cellier du Pic Cos du Petit Jour Merlot “Cuvée Prestige” (Pays d’Oc, France) – $19.99, regularly $25.49.
The Cellier du Pic is a cooperative of one hundred winemakers located near Montpellier, Pic St. Loop in southern France started in 1989. Located in the villages of Assas, Baillargues, Claret and Saint-Gély-du Fesc, the growers share their expertise and good humor are always at the service of delicious, supple and authentic wines so that the terroirs of of approximately 700 hectares are showcased true to their terroir and are synonymous with pleasure and character.
Our weekly special this week is their Le Cos du Petit Jour Merlot “Cuvée Prestige”, a full-bodied, supple, and juicy red wine is made exclusively from Merlot grapes. After production, it is aged for several months in oak barrels, from which it acquires notes of vanilla and a lightly toasted undertone. The nose is immediately inviting and is dominated by an abundance of ripe red and black fruit, reminiscent of berries, strawberries, and cherries. The oak aging is also clearly visible, with a hint of laurel in the background. The palate is just as fruity as the nose and is therefore particularly juicy. The oak aging is responsible for the wine’s slightly coating, soft, and rounded character, and these impressions linger well into the tasty finish. This wine is excellent as an aperitif or with young, soft cheeses, roasted meats, (spicy) stews, and pork dishes..
Prost!