Marchesi di Gresy, Monferrato Rosso 2019

A 100% Merlot, like this, from Piedmont is a bit of a curiosity given that it's Nebbiolo and Barbera that dominate in this area. It is, however, something that works really well. Originally planted in a small way and intended for blending with Barbera, it turned out to make a pretty good wine all by itself — so they went ahead and bottled it as such. It spends up to 3 years in a mix of French and Slavonian oak and the end result is a wine oozing aromas of plum, damson and cherry mingling with leather, sweet spice, black pepper and earthy touches. The barrel ageing has added vanilla and balsamic notes and, in all, it probably has more in common with a good Saint Émilion than many Piedmont reds, but that's not really any problem at all.

Excellent wine with real pedigree. Try with simply cooked steak, game, rabbit or lamb, casseroles, or wild boar ragu.

Marchesi di Grésy, recognised as one of Piemonte's top producers, boasts 45 hectares of vineyards across Langhe and Monferrato, including the renowned Martinenga vineyard in Barbaresco. The stunning natural amphitheatre surrounding the winery has been owned by the di Grésy family since 1797. Alberto di Grésy, was the one who began producing wines under the di Grésy name in 1973 - previously they had sold their fruit to other producers. His winemaking philosophy is simple - use the best technology while respecting tradition and highlighting the character of the terrain and grape variety.