Chateau Trocard Bordeaux Superieur (75cl, 14.5%)

A Merlot-dominant red blend from Bordeaux, France, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The blend is 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, fermented over a 28-day maceration and aged without oak, with bâtonnage to build body and texture. The vineyards sit on gravelly alluvial deposits along the Isle River. It has earned a Silver Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and a star in the Guide Hachette des Vins. The nose leads with blackberry and cassis, followed by earthy mushroom and damp soil notes, with a subtle mineral quality as it opens. The palate is ripe and fruit-forward, with dark plum and blueberry at medium to full body, firm tannins and bright acidity. The finish is medium in length, with fine-grained tannins carrying blackberry and a faint earthy note.