Grand Sud's Merlot comes from the Languedoc, where the warm southern climate gives the grapes a ripe, jammy character. The alcohol is removed using a spinning cones column, a vacuum distillation process that works at low temperatures to preserve as much of the wine's aromatic profile as possible. It pours a deep ruby red. The nose is open and fruit-forward: blackcurrant, cherry, and dark berry with a soft jammy quality. On the palate it's round and reasonably full-bodied for an alcohol-free red, with the soft tannin structure you'd expect from Merlot. The finish is medium length, with a gentle sweetness that lingers. It reads like an approachable, uncomplicated red. Not particularly complex, but it holds together well and won't embarrass itself next to food.