This is an offering from Tesco. As most folks know, the Mau Family has a tradition of Bordeaux winemaking, they started out in 1897. The Saint Jovian Merlot and Cab Sauvignon is made with parcels of grapes grown in the wider Bordeaux region I'd say.

This is a modern luncheon claret without PV or Cab Franc and tastes fine for £3.99. At 12.5% by volume it is very well balanced. One wonders how they can do it at the price, given the tax / duty and VAT that is also added to distribution and bottling costs ! That is 5.11 Euro in France per litre.

The wine is very similar to Entre-de-Mers and Bergerac styles and is best drunk at slightly less than room temperature. When open, drink up as sucking out overnight does not improve matters. The wine actually has a slight touch of cigar box on the finish, and is very acceptable. Medium bodied, reasonable fruit, not too dry and a good colour in the glass, a little bit murky, but that is usual these days for claret and claret clones. This one tastes like claret, drink now, as the wine could lose fruit if stored and could become furry on the palate if left in the wine rack for too long (18 months).
A great effort for £3.99 per litre. Re- bottle in empty and named Medoc chateaux bottles and fool your friends. Much nicer than Chateaux Meaume 2004 - sorry Majestic, but someone had to tell you.

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Duncan