Posted: March 7, 2023
Very promising full-bodied style layered with greenish fruit and upfront tannins.
Comments Off on Bec Hardy Pertaringa Stage Left McLaren Vale Merlot 2021 / 0 View / March 7, 2023
Posted: March 7, 2023
Menthol/forest floor nose and cola/oak-like flavours. “Loads of personality!”
Comments Off on Devitt & Moore William Pile Coonawarra Merlot 2019 / 0 View / March 7, 2023
Posted: March 7, 2023
Highly aromatic bright blackberry bouquet and a crunchy red licorice palate with a subtle use of oak.
Comments Off on Margarey Lane Coonawarra Merlot 2019 / 0 View / March 7, 2023
Posted: March 7, 2023
Showing a good core of Dutch licorice-like characters here with some blackberry notes and menthol nuances.
Comments Off on Schoolhouse Block D1 Coonawarra Merlot 2019 / 0 View / March 7, 2023
Posted: November 2, 2022
Buoyantly fruity, this full-coloured red is enjoyable young. Mouthfilling, it has very good depth of ripe plum, red berry and spice flavours, fresh acidity and a smooth finish. $18
Comments Off on Haha Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2021 / 0 View / November 2, 2022
Posted: November 2, 2022
This bold, vibrant, lush red was matured in French oak casks (44% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dark and purple-flushed, it has rich plum, red berry, spice and nut flavours, a hint of liquorice, gentle tannins and obvious potential…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020 / 0 View / November 2, 2022
Posted: November 2, 2022
A solid chocolaty style of merlot with good berry fruit backbone and silky smooth in the mouth.
Comments Off on Watkins Mad Cousins Series Wavemaker Langhorne Creek Merlot 2021 / 0 View / November 2, 2022
Posted: November 2, 2022
Warm, generous and vibrant wine in the dark fruit spectrum with light oak and minty notes.
Comments Off on Tenafeate Creek One Tree Hill Merlot 2021 / 0 View / November 2, 2022
Posted: November 2, 2022
Rich full flavoured varietal that’s all blackcurrants and chocolate.
Comments Off on Summerfield Pyrenees Merlot 2020 / 0 View / November 2, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Priced right, this full-coloured red has fresh, berryish, spicy aromas. Mouthfilling, it has good depth of lively berry, plum and spice flavours, in a moderately complex style with some savoury notes and balanced tannins. Best drinking mid-2023+. $19
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Falcon Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
This powerful, sturdy, savoury red is still unfolding. Hand-picked from 30 year-old vines, it was matured in French oak casks (35% new). Full-coloured, it has strong, ripe plum, red berry and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice, leathery and nutty…
Comments Off on Longview Estate Winemaker’s Reserve Northland Merlot 2019 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Showing obvious potential, this deeply coloured red has a fragrant, spicy bouquet. Full-bodied, it has concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, and excellent ripeness and complexity. Savoury and supple, it’s still youthful and well worth cellaring to 2025+….
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2020 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Inviting dark fruit bouquet and very savoury deep dark black fruit flavours with grippy tannins and a lingering finish.
Comments Off on Reschke Bull Trader Coonawarra Merlot 2021 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Dark fruited nose with gamey notes and pretty black fruit palate with grippy tannins.
Comments Off on Reschke R-Series Limestone Coast Merlot 2021 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Nice and serious style in the mulberry fruit spectrum with a good acid tannin combination dominating.
Comments Off on Smith & Hooper Wrattonbully Merlot 2019 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Spicy Christmas cake of a nose and palate with minty notes and good acid/tannin balance.
Comments Off on Majella Wines Coonawarra Merlot 2020 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: September 3, 2022
Nose has a lift of red fruits with nicely textured blue/black fruit palate. Some development evident.
Comments Off on Berrigan Wines Mount Benson Merlot 2020 / 0 View / September 3, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Good peppery black fruit depth, nice toasty oak and high level of acid.
Comments Off on Reschke Bull Trader Coonawarra Merlot 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Easy drinking with a pleasant integration of plum, spices and leather complemented by the tannins.
Comments Off on Reschke R-Series Limestone Coast Merlot 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Earthy mushroomy bouquet and a soft nicely aged Christmas cake-like palate.
Comments Off on Seville Hill Yarra Valley Merlot 2014 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
A pleasant, not overly complex, wine with fragrant fruit and firm tannins.
Comments Off on Mount Avoca Estate Organic Pyrenees Merlot 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Complex, floral and very varietal – all sweet herbs and plum fruit.
Comments Off on Hickinbotham of Dromana Mornington Peninsula Merlot 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
A nicely maturing dry red with good balance between savoury and fruity.
Comments Off on Yarravale Reserve Yarra Vale Merlot 2014 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Cool, lean and green with stalky stylishness, laced with plums and chocolate, a spicy lift and good tannins.
Comments Off on Big Easy Radio Looking Forward To Yesterday McLaren Vale Merlot 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
A spicy/menthol bouquet and great persistence of herbaceous flavours.
Comments Off on K1 Adelaide Hills Merlot 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Great concentration and persistence of juicy plums mixed with berries, spices and hints of vanilla.
Comments Off on Smith & Hooper Wrattonbully Merlot 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Good use of oak here with hints of blackcurrant, plums, spices, some earthy elements and drying tannins.
Comments Off on Mount Avoca Estate Organic Pyrenees Merlot 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Minty red berry bouquet with plum notes and firm persistent minty red berry flavours.
Comments Off on Trentham Estate Merlot 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Inviting savoury, meaty and peppery bouquet and a very generous palate with gamey/savoury elements mixing with stewed plum and prune-like fruit. Some massive tannins. 5+
Comments Off on Bettenay Wines Margaret River Merlot 2020 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Drinking well now and offering good value, this Waipara blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and cabernet franc was barrique-aged for a year. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, with ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, showing some savoury complexity, supple tannins and good…
Comments Off on Main Divide North /Cabernet Canterbury Merlot 2019 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
This powerful red (15.5% alc/vol) was made by ‘cutting the bunch canes, allowing the fruit to shrivel prior to harvest [which] concentrated the juice within’. Dark and robust, it is very ripe-tasting, with bold, vibrant, berryish, plummy flavours, a hint…
Comments Off on Sileni Cut Cane Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Developing a Bordeaux-like complexity with age, this deeply coloured, elegant, harmonious red is drinking well now. Full-bodied and fleshy, it has ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, savoury notes adding complexity, supple tannins and a long finish. Fine…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
This powerful, weighty, lush red was estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and matured in French oak casks (41% new). Boldly coloured, it is a robust, very ripe style, with bold berry, plum and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice,…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Merlot 2019 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
A classy, stylish and elegant cool climate merlot with spicy licorice aromas and herbaceous chocolaty flavours.
Comments Off on Cassegrain Wines Edition Noir Orange Merlot 2019 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Seamlessly balanced wine with blue fruit-like characters and chocolaty/black olive-like complexity.
Comments Off on Watkins Pilot Real Langhorne Creek Merlot 2020 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Ripe and earthy black fruit fragrances and a long chocolaty/licorice driven palate. Drinking well now with more in it yet. 3-5
Comments Off on Levrier by Jo Irvine Art Collection Barossa Merlot 2018 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
“A true merlot!” All ripe blackberry and black licorice with lots of attractive oak.
Comments Off on K1 By Geoff Hardy Adelaide Hills Merlot 2020 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Savoury nose; all prunes and figs with a fleshy berry fruit palate. Great example of the variety.
Comments Off on Watkins Pilot Real Langhorne Creek Merlot 2020 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
An oak driven wine; some plums and savoury characters with firm grippy tannins.
Comments Off on Richard Hamilton Lot 148 McLaren Vale Merlot 2020 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Leafy mulberry aromas with elegant fruit on the palate. Lots of acid and tannins. Needs cellaring!
Comments Off on Bec Hardy Wines Pertaringa Stage Left McLaren Vale Merlot 2021 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: May 12, 2022
Smells of rum and raisin chocolate with soft slightly stewed fruit flavours. Drink now.
Comments Off on Below & Above Single Vineyard Pemberton Merlot 2017 / 0 View / May 12, 2022
Posted: April 14, 2022
A lovely generosity of blackcurrant-like fruit, cedary oak and huge velvety tannins.
Comments Off on Saddler’s Creek Wines Alessandro Reserve Mudgee Merlot 2018 / 0 View / April 14, 2022
Posted: April 14, 2022
Floral/cassis fruit and cedary oak coming together nicely and bound with good line of acid.
Comments Off on Stonehaven Stepping Stone Limestone Coast Merlot 2020 / 0 View / April 14, 2022
Posted: April 14, 2022
Crimson/purple hues, floral berry nose and lots of juicy fruit flavours with a soft tannin backbone.
Comments Off on Pete’s Pure Murray Darling Merlot 2021 / 0 View / April 14, 2022
Posted: December 3, 2021
Uncomplicated, well-made varietal with sweet berry fruits, vanilla oak and soft tannins.
Comments Off on Brangayne Of Orange Orange Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 3, 2021
Posted: December 3, 2021
Menthol dominated chocolaty aromas and a soft, juicy and flavoursome palate.
Comments Off on Bec Hardy Wines Pertaringa Stage Left Adelaide Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 3, 2021
Posted: December 3, 2021
This youthful North Canterbury red was estate-grown, hand-picked and matured for over a year in seasoned oak barrels. Full-coloured, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with strong berry, plum, spice and herb flavours, savoury notes adding complexity and gentle tannins. Best…
Comments Off on Ataahua Waipara Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 3, 2021
Posted: December 3, 2021
Dark brambly fruit fragrances and nicely textured cool climate palate. Quite tannic with attractive malty oak.
Comments Off on Nightfall Single Barrel Coonawarra Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 3, 2021
Posted: December 3, 2021
Delicate varietal fruit nose, blackberry/plum flavours and tangy acidity.
Comments Off on Cumulus Vineyards Quilty & Gransden Orange Merlot 2018 / 0 View / December 3, 2021