Closure: Screw Top
ABV: 12.5%
Serve at room temperature
Price: Approx £3.99
Retailer: Tesco

Stock up for Christmas on this wine!

Isla Negra Merlot Reserva is just what it says on the bottle. It is packed full of the flavour of plums, it also says a hint of chocolate although I did not taste that. I was indulging myself in the long smooth velvety aftertaste and thinking how it reminded me of this time of the year when the plums are dropping from the trees and autumn is on its way.

The smell on opening is fantastic of fruits and the colour follows through as a rich ruby red. It is recommended that it can be drunk now or cellared for up to 3 years.

Chile is so narrow a country, between the Andes and the Pacific, that virtually all its vineyards have a mountainous background, which in turn provides a Mediterranean type climate to produce some very fine wines. This Merlot is certainly a very fine wine.

Isla Negra is a small seaside town a short drive from Santiago and it was the home and is now the resting place of famous Pablo Neruda, a 1971 Nobel Laureate and one of the greatest Spanish-language poets of the 20th century, Pablo Neruda was a prolific writer of passionate love poems, historical epics and political narratives.

The label is very interesting and draws you in to thinking of holidays as winter is approaching here, it describes Isla Negra as the house in the sand on the wild and rugged coast of mythical Chile, a place of art and inspiration.

This is an ideal wine to serve with pasta and cheeses or try a typical Chilean recipe like the exquisite La Empanada Pomairina, (breaded meat) that is known for its giant size. As you can see by the picture I had it with Chinese take away and it was equally as good.

An excellent full bodied wine and I will give it 9/10 pushing a 10/10