Merlot 2023

La Cayetana

Poor old Merlot. Its fortunes don’t seem to have recovered all that much since the publication of Rex Pickett’s hilarious 2004 novel, Sideways, with another big coffin nail being hammered in when the movie was released later that same year. But we never gave up. And when we heard from Eduardo Soler at La Cayetena that he had made a Merlot we had to taste it, and what a joyous decision that was. Cast aside all preconceptions of fat, plump, ‘soupy’ wines lacking in structure (come to think of it, Chile didn’t help much!) and embrace this precision expression of one of the undisputed great grapes of the world. Yes, there is plenty of ripe black fruit on the nose, but coupled with subtle floral and herbaceous notes, and on the palate this is very finely poised with delicious, juicy acidity, hints of mocha and balsamic. The wine bears the textural hallmark of La Cayetana… simultaneously and weirdly forthcoming and restrained. In truth, when we first brought this wine into the UK in Autumn 2025 it rapidly became one of the most successful launches we have known. Nice one Eduardo. Tough titties Rex.