Merlot IGP Méditerranée 2024

Wine Description for Merlot IGP Méditerranée 2024 from Roche-Audran

Colour & Appearance

Lightly transparent garnet red with youthful freshness and crystalline brilliance.

Nose

A remarkable exception in the South: where one might expect heaviness from Merlot under Mediterranean sun, Vincent Rochette reveals astonishing finesse. The aromatics shift between ripe elderberries, plums and black cherries – always crisp and precise. These are joined by earthy notes, undergrowth, a hint of tobacco, crushed stone, olive and the typical garrigue of Provence. Not a trace of southern heat – rather a cool, almost Burgundian elegance.

Palate

Here the true artistry reveals itself: fine-grained texture thanks to ageing in cement tank, a vibrant drinking flow that is utterly addictive. The balance is masterful – fresh, cool notes meet sensual southern flavours of liquorice, olive and Mediterranean herbs. Slender, charming, never clumsy. At 13% alcohol, the wine feels light-footed and unpretentious, without being banal.

Finish

Medium-length with persistent fruit freshness and a lingering echo of herbs and mineral notes.

Terroir & Origin

IGP Méditerranée – an unusual provenance for varietal Merlot. Vincent Rochette from the Roche-Audran estate on the southern Rhône demonstrates that the right approach can produce wines of remarkable coolness and precision even here.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Merlot, vinified and aged in cement tank – a deliberate choice that gives the wine its characteristic fine-grained structure and freshness without masking the fruit.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Perfect with grilled vegetables, ratatouille, lamb chops with Provençal herbs, duck breast, pasta with tomato sauce or a mature Comté. Its versatility makes it an ideal everyday companion.

Special Features

A classic with cult potential – squaring the circle of southern origin and northern elegance. The price-to-pleasure ratio is extraordinary, making this Merlot a genuine bestseller.