2015 Malbec-Merlot Chateau De Grezels

Let me confess. French wines are confusing to me. It’s all about the ground where the grape grows. Since a vine produces grapes from acreage that a French Lord owned in 1,500 A.D., that wine is more valuable? There are vineyards in Bordeaux that sell their grapes to several different wine makers; each winemaker markets the same wine under that label: if there were 15 winemakers, there are 15 different labels! This red wine blend was produced in Cahors, France. Understandably, the vintner translated their auxerrois (Cort) grape to Malbec, which gives better sales in the U.S.A. However, do not confuse the Cort with their auxerrios blanc (white)….About the Chateau De Grezels’ M& M blend. 70% Malabec was smoothed very nicely by the 30% Merlot. Again, the vintner cheapened the wine by using a synthetic cork, demoting it from a cellar wine. Let the Cahors adventure begin: The nose is floral, light violet. It has legs that go with a red-red wine color. Keeping, keeping on finds plumb, raspberry, minerality, and a licorice finish. Oak tannin stays around for a while. Since it’s a French wine, pair it with calves liver or roasted duck.