Pour this and you get a glass that just wants to be your friend. Soft, round and full of ripe plum, it goes down easy without asking much of you. No swirling, no studying, no homework. It's the bottle you grab when the nyama choma's on the grill and the plan is good company, not a tasting exam. Dry, smooth, ready the second it's open.
Stick your nose in and it's juicy plum first, then a handful of red berries and a faint warm vanilla in the background. The sip follows the smell: ripe and fruity up front, soft as a cushion in the middle, with tannins (that's the grippy, drying bit in a red) kept gentle so nothing scratches. It's dry, meaning the fruit is there but there's no real sugar sweetness, and it finishes clean and short. Medium-bodied, so it sits lighter than a big Cabernet but still has something to say.
The details
Pairs well with
Where it's from
Gato Negro is the lucky black cat brand from Viña San Pedro, one of Chile's oldest and biggest wineries, going back to 1865. The story goes that a black cat leapt onto the barrels in the cellar one day, and rather than chase off the bad omen, the winemakers took it as good luck and put the cat on the label. The grapes come from Chile's Central Valley, a wide sunny stretch of vineyards running south of Santiago where Merlot ripens to that soft, plummy fruitiness.
Good to know
- What is the price of Gato Negro Merlot 75cl?
Gato Negro Merlot 75cl is KSh 1,309 at Oaks & Corks. Order online for fast delivery across Nairobi, usually within the hour, or next day countrywide.
- What does Gato Negro Merlot 75cl taste like?
Ripe plum and red berry with a touch of vanilla, smooth and medium-bodied with soft, gentle tannins. It's dry and fruity rather than sweet, and the finish is clean and easygoing.
- What is the ABV of Gato Negro Merlot?
It's 13% ABV, a fairly standard strength for a red wine.
- Is Gato Negro Merlot sweet or dry?
It's dry. You'll taste plenty of ripe fruit, but that's the fruitiness of the grape, not added sugar.
- How should I serve it?
Slightly cool is best. Give it about 20 minutes in the fridge, pour into a normal wine glass, and drink it straight, no decanting needed.
- What food pairs with Gato Negro Merlot?
It loves grilled and roasted meats, so nyama choma, burgers, steak and roast chicken all work, as do tomato pasta, pizza and cheese boards.
- Where is Gato Negro Merlot from?
Chile. It's made by Viña San Pedro from grapes grown in the Central Valley, and the brand dates back to the winery's founding in 1865.
Gato Negro Merlot 75cl
★★★★½ 4.3 (4 reviews)Customer reviews
Loading reviews…
Gato Negro Merlot 75cl price in Kenya
Buy Gato Negro Merlot 75cl online in Nairobi, Kenya. Available in 2 sizes — Gato Negro Merlot 1.5L at KSh 2,199, 750 ml at KSh 1,309 — with fast delivery across Nairobi, usually within 30 minutes, or next-day countrywide.
- Gato Negro Merlot 1.5LKSh 2,199
- 750 mlKSh 1,309