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Batter the meat and the drink in Bordeaux (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hammer

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'batter' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'meat and the drink in bordeaux' is the wordplay.
'meat' becomes 'ham' (ham is a kind of meat).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'the drink in bordeaux' becomes 'mer' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ham'+'mer'='HAMMER'

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hammer that I've seen before include "it's to be launched in 8 [HIGHLAND GAMES]" , "Clawed tool?" , "bash" , "Gavel, small mallet" , "Tool; athletic event" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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