This robust and aromatic red wine is a tribute to the pilgrims who made their way to Basilique Sainte-Thèrese in the village of Saint-Desir, France. Awarded for its previous vintage, the St. Desir Merlot-Syrah 2021 is produced from Merlot and Syrah grapes, making for a plummy and intense wine that’s as robust as it is complex. The eastern part of the Pays d’Oc appellation boasts a Mediterranean climate with hot summer days and cool nights, perfect for growing fruit-forward Merlot near the Canal du Midi, where clay and limestone terroir provide rich nutrients. Syrah grapes are selected from the rocky terroir of the Black Mountains, lending plenty of sunshine for them to thrive. The sunny coastal climate locks in the grapes’ complex flavors, aromatic intensity, and freshness. Winemaker Phillippe Lebrun took things a step further by aging the Merlot in American oak and the Syrah in French oak barrels. This adds warm vanilla undertones and baked spice flavors to the wines. When combined, the outcome is a full-bodied red wine rippling with raspberry and red plum complemented by nuances of toasted oak and chocolate spice. Serve the St. Desir Merlot-Syrah Pays d'Oc France 2021 with charred red meat and rich casseroles.