Château La Rose Bellevue Prestige Côtes de Bordeaux 2010 (O’Briens, €14.99 )
From France’s Bordeaux, this is a harmonious blend of Merlot (75 per cent ) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25 per cent ) made from grapes grown 20 kilometres north of Blaye. On the nose, it’s a little shy at first until the red fruit emerges with a little vanilla to entice the senses. On the palate, it’s very smooth showing much more personality coming alive gushing with an abundance of sweet cherry and jammy blackcurrant fruit and a judicial amount of oak and soft tannins. Elegant with a touch of sophistication towards a lengthy finish, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a Sunday roast or an after-dinner plate of cheese.
