Rio Lento - Merlot - Chile

• Vintage: 2018
• Origin: Central Valley, Chile - Concha Y Toro
• Taste guide: Medium bodied, plum, cherry and well balanced berry fruit flavours - unoaked
• 75cl - 12.5% - screwcap
• Food pairing: lamb, game and Italian cuisine.

This wine was produced specifically for a wholesale supplier to the UK restaurant trade, with the brand name "Rio Lento". It was made by Concha Y Toro, one of the best of the Chilean volume wine producers, and one of the few that sources its red wines totally from its own vineyards.

The wine is bright ruby red in colour, with a violet shade. There is an appealing fruity bouquet of plum, red berries and cherries, with pepper and soft cacao notes. This leads to a fresh, soft and well balanced palate of red fruits, chocolate and cassis, with supple tannins and a long finish. The clear rounded fruity flavours are surprisingly serious and well-balanced to create a wine that is very easy to enjoy.

A lovely quaffing wine, goes with most straightforward meat dishes whose character is not too robust, such as lamb, game and Italian cuisine. It goes well with soft cheeses and, dismissing the old adage "white wine for white meat", is surprisingly good with pork too.

Only seen on restaurant wine lists where its price varies from £15.95-£17.95. Ths would indicate a retail value of at least £8.00.

At BinEndWines just £5.95.