Merlot
Chapeau Melon 2024
La Vrille et le Papillon

Grape Variety: Merlot

Producer: La Vrille et le Papillon (Méryl and Géraldine Crozier)

Region: Valvignères, Ardèche, France

Wild Scale: 4/5

Vegan friendly wine

13.5% alcohol

Winemaking: Organic Merlot grapes were harvested by hand. 70% underwent direct press whilst the remaining 30% were de-stemmed and crushed before remaining on the skins for 5 days. Fermentation with indigenous yeast and then aged in fibreglass tanks for 7 months. Bottled with no fining, filtration or added sulphur. 

This Wine: Natural red wine with a light to medium body. Dark fruit flavours with a nice complexity of herbal and savoury notes. A brilliant bottle of casual midweek meals and you can drink it slightly chilled too.

Notes on the Winemaker: Méryl Crozier's family grew grapes and sold them to the local co-op before he decided to take over and move things in a different direction after learning winemaking techniques in other parts of France. He and partner Géraldine now produce honest and unpretentious wines where the fruit chracter really shines through.