If you've been after a red that punches well above its modest price, you've just found it. Laborie Merlot comes from one of the Cape's oldest estates, tucked beneath the granite shoulder of Paarl Rock, where the Taillefert family planted vines back in 1691. Three centuries of know-how go into a bottle that costs less than a takeaway.
In the glass, it's generous and welcoming: blackcurrant and ripe plum up front, a lift of fresh raspberry, then a savoury depth from eight to ten months in oak. The tannins have a pleasing grip rather than a soft slide, which is exactly what gives this Merlot its backbone and its food-friendliness. The finish is fragrant and surprisingly elegant for an everyday wine.
This is a proper all-rounder. Pour it with a tomato-rich pasta, roast duck or a simple herb-roasted chicken, or let it stand up to a grilled ribeye. It's drinking beautifully now but has the structure to rest for a few years if you'd rather wait.
Keep a few bottles in for those nights when you want something reliable and rewarding without overthinking it. We ship across the UK, usually within a couple of days, so restocking the rack is easy.
