Plagios (Sideways) Merlot 2013 from Ktima Biblia Chora

Even the Merlot-dominated entry-level wine (in German) from the Biblia Chora estate isn't bad. The varietal Merlot with the modern label, inspired by the film Sideways and the diagonal move of the bishop in chess, plays in an entirely different league again, though.

On the nose, a very fine cedar note shows itself, underlaid by ripe, still juicy plum that never drifts toward the jammy. On the palate, a likewise still very fresh cherry dominates, with darker fruit in the background. At 15%, the wine fills the whole mouth, without the alcohol ever coming across as overpowering, though. Rather, it's in perfect balance with a far-reaching acidity and a very fine tannin. A very pleasant sweetness of age transitions into a varied finish, animated by cocoa notes. Nougat and blueberry linger. And for a very long time, at that.

This is a Merlot that will leave little to be desired even for demanding, internationally spoiled fans of the variety. It therefore also deserves phenomenal 18.5 points. Anyone wanting even more filigree ageing notes can happily let the wine lie for another 5 years.

The wine, in the 2014 vintage, is available from our partner shop (in German) via this link (in German) for €19.80. (Orders placed via this link support our website.) Especially nice, too, is the fact that the white wine from the same range (in German) is equally magnificent, giving you the perfect combination of two wines made from international varieties from Greece as a high-quality gift.