Silver Frond is M&S's own-label low-alcohol wine range, produced in New Zealand and sourced from some well-regarded growing regions. This Merlot comes from Hawke's Bay, a region better known for structured red wines than most of the country's output, and the grape split reflects that: 87% Merlot with Cabernet Franc making up the rest. The wine is dealcoholised using what M&S describes as "innovative technology" — industry shorthand for a gentle vacuum-distillation or spinning cone process that removes alcohol while retaining flavour compounds. In practice, you get the red berry and plum character of ripe Merlot, with a bit of oak in the background and a finish softened by the absence of alcohol's warming weight. It contains sulphites. At 0.5% ABV it sits in the low-alcohol category rather than truly alcohol-free, but it's about as close as you're going to get in a red wine format at this price point. A reasonable option for anyone who wants something that feels like wine at dinner without the full commitment.