Château La Guarrigue Bordeaux Rouge 2016

People who pooh-pooh merlot lose me for starters (and finishers), especially when so many swell renditions come our way from Bordeaux. The Château La Guarrigue Bordeaux Rouge 2016 ($13), which is 80 percent merlot, nails that fruit/herb/acid/tannin balance that fairly shouts “Bordeaux.” The finish is wonderfully persistent. The first word in my tasting notes is “yum,” which means it fulfills the main task ascribed to wine: being delicious. Some similarly tasty accompaniments include anything off the grill (including fowl) and herb-laden veggies, including the always-difficult-to-pair eggplant.

At Northfield Muni, Solo Vino, Excelsior Vintage, North Loop, Stinson and Cellars Plymouth.

Bill Ward