This wine from Marks & Spencer’s is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot and 9% Syrah/Shiraz. It has mixed reviews on the M&S site but a relatively high score of 89 by Decanter and a more modest 3.4 on Vivino.
Instead of traditional barrel aging, it’s matured with cheaper French oak staves for up to a year. This method has been handled with care, resulting in well-balanced taste and tannins that don’t overpower the flavours.
It’s medium to full body and has an unexpected purple hue. The initial enticing black fruit aroma leads to a dry, spicy taste that’s slightly tannic, with a medium length that becomes more tannic towards the end.
It’s worth exploring, at between £8.50 and £10, but it’s likely to neither disappoint or surprise.
