Clos l'Hermitage, Lalande de Pomerol 2022

Rich cassis and soft woody spices lead the aromas here which is followed up by lush brambly fruit on the palate alongside a touch of warm, toasty oak. It's got great structure and really feels the part on the tongue. It's 80% Merlot which is typical of these parts of Bordeaux's right bank.

Just the type of thing that'll suit braised beef or, even better, a meltingly tender ox cheek.

Clos de L'Hermitage covers just over 3 hectares of mainly Merlot vines, with one fifth planted to Cabernet Franc near the up-and-coming village of Néac in Lalande de Pomerol. It's owned by the Bertin family have produced wine in Bordeaux since 1742. Under Yvette Bertin, who works with her grand-daughter Sarah Boireau, the aim is to produce full bodied, mellow and balanced wines by bringing modern expertise to ancient traditions, which they seem to be doing pretty well.