Smith & Hooper Wrattonbully Merlot 2017
Posted: December 10, 2019
Advanced minty/chocolaty bouquet and good spicy oak obvious on the palate.
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Villa Maria Private Bin Organic Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017
Posted: December 10, 2019
Certified organic, this ruby-hued red is medium-bodied, with berryish, slightly spicy flavours, showing a touch of complexity, and a fresh, smooth finish. $16
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Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Posted: December 10, 2019
Enjoyable young, this full-coloured, mouthfilling red is vibrantly fruity, with good depth of plummy, slightly spicy flavours, fresh and smooth. $16
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Mission Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very easy-drinking red is full-coloured and mouthfilling, with fresh, vibrant, berryish, spicy flavours, gentle tannins and a smooth finish. It’s not a complex style, but enjoyable young and priced right. $16
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Pask Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2016
Posted: December 10, 2019
Still unfolding, this mouthfilling red has very good depth of vibrant plum, spice and herb flavours, finely balanced tannins and some savoury complexity. Best drinking mid-2020+. $22 (A, UK)
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Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Posted: December 10, 2019
Freshly scented, this fruit-packed red was hand-harvested and matured for a year in French oak barrels (25% new). It has bold, purple-flushed colour, mouthfilling body, generous, plummy, spicy flavours and a gentle seasoning of oak. Best drinking 2021+. $25
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Babich Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2016
Posted: December 10, 2019
Grown in the Irongate Vineyard, this fragrant, very elegant Gimblett Gravels red is full-coloured, with excellent body and depth of berryish, spicy flavours. French oak-aged for a year, it is complex and savoury, with good cellaring potential. $35
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Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014
Posted: December 10, 2019
At five years old, this powerful, ripe, very concentrated red is still unfolding. It has deep, fairly youthful colour, with a hint of liquorice on the nose, deep, ripe plum, berry and spice flavours, and good tannin backbone. Weighty, dense…
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Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2018
Posted: December 10, 2019
A super fresh straightforward wine with bright pretty red cherry fruit characters.
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Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2018
Posted: December 10, 2019
Purple hues and perfumed plum fruit fragrances with a chocolaty thread. Nicely structured palate with great balance and intensity of the juicy fruit and the oak.
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Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills Merlot 2017
Posted: December 10, 2019
Lifted fruit intensity on the nose laced with spicy cedary oak. Full flavoured oak driven palate with pretty varietal fruit underneath and a lovely vibrancy of acid
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Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2017
Posted: December 10, 2019
Jubey currant-like style with some red licorice characters and quite a savoury edge. Offers great drinkability.
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Tamburlaine Organic Wines On The Grapevine Orange Merlot 2018
Posted: September 4, 2019
Earthy spicy blackberry aromas lift off the nose and carry through to the palate giving lovely flavour intensity balanced by oak.
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Uleybury Wines Single Vineyard Adelaide Merlot 2016
Posted: September 4, 2019
Toasty raisined characters on the nose with a rich tarry/licorice flavour profile. Ready for drinking now!
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Riddoch Coonawarra Merlot 2017
Posted: September 4, 2019
Aromas of plums and berries and a bright palate layered with cranberry and plum characters.
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Katnook Estate Founder’s Block Coonawarra Merlot 2017
Posted: September 4, 2019
Red fruit nose with a touch of spice and hint of mint. Quite a rustic varietal fruit palate with big firm tannins. 3-5
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Majella Coonawarra Merlot 2017
Posted: September 4, 2019
Lively lifted perfumed oak nose with attractive red fruits. Lovely generosity and concentration of varietal fruit flavours and fine drying tannins. “More-ish!”
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Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2018
Posted: September 4, 2019
Dense fruit fragrances with generous oak balance. Palate described by one judge as having, “Friendly brambly fruit and dark chocolate”. Strong tannins and dusty oak. 5+
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Star Lane Winery Beechworth Merlot 2016
Posted: September 4, 2019
“A serious wine.” A spicy cherry/berry bouquet with flavours of ripe dark plums and some astringent tannins. 5+
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Piano Piano Wines Reserve Beechworth Merlot 2017
Posted: September 4, 2019
Dense fruit fragrances threaded with vanilla oak. Palate has lovely elegance and a delicacy of interesting ‘dark’ oaky flavours with grainy tannins.
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Serengale Beechworth Merlot 2017
Posted: September 4, 2019
Highly perfumed fruit aromas and very flavoursome cherry palate with well integrated tannins. 5+
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Delta Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
Lovely dark berry/cherry aromatics that are echoed on the palate with firm tannins and lively acidity. $20
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Villa Maria Private Bin Organic Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
A touch green and herbal merlot with ageing berry and plum fruit. “Will appeal to many.”
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Pure Vision South Australia Merlot 2018
Posted: July 3, 2019
A huge rich full bodied style of merlot with minty/floral varietal fruit aromas and dense, long and mouthfilling bright plum fruit flavours. “A very lively merlot,” enthused one judge.
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Brangayne of Orange Orange Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
Mildly savoury nose with some dark berry fruit and peppery plum flavours. “Needs 10 years!” said one judge. $35
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Smooth & Round South Eastern Australia Merlot 2018
Posted: July 3, 2019
Spicy mulberry and jubey fruit nose with similar palate and grippy tannins adding interest.
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Oxford Landing Estates South Australia Merlot 2018
Posted: July 3, 2019
Fragrant plum aromas with a menthol lift and supple herbal fruit palate.
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Villa Teresa Veneto Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
A leafy lightweight with hints of aniseed-like characters and upfront tannins.
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Twisted Sticks Organic Riverland Merlot 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
An easy drinking commercial style with simple young perfumed plum fruit characters, high level of acidity and a nice sweet finish.
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Salena Organic Riverland Merlot 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
An acid driven, somewhat tannic, style with great cherry and raspberry-like fruit showing a violet lift. Good drinking now.
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Mount Avoca Estate Pyrenees Merlot 2018
Posted: July 3, 2019
Inviting aromas of Sarsaparilla and mint with hints of lavender. A long well structured palate with beautiful varietal fruit flavours perfectly integrated with the oak. “Vibrant, fresh drinkability!”
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Toi Toi Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
This is a very easy-drinking red, ruby hued and vibrantly fruity, with decent depth of berry, plum and spice flavours, some savoury notes adding complexity, and a dry, well-rounded finish. $17 (A, US)
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Artwine The Dog House Adelaide Hills Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
Loads of cherries lift off the nose with hints of dark fruits and an attractive cherry pie of a palate with a slight jammy finish.
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Mt Bera Wild & Free Adelaide Hills Merlot 2013
Posted: July 3, 2019
A big drying tannic wine. Aged dried fruit-like nose and brooding licoricey palate with toasty oak and honeyed age.
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Mike Press Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
Savoury, slightly herbaceous, aromas with a peppery element. Nicely structured palate, quite minty and peppery with pretty perfumed lift and good level of tannins.
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Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills Merlot 2017
Posted: July 3, 2019
Bold bright aromas and flavours of blueberries, capsicums, black pepper and violets. Great palate weight with nice mouthfeel and lots of fine lingering tannins.
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Zilzie Estate Murray Darling Merlot 2018
Posted: July 3, 2019
Delicate plum and mulberry aromas and flavours. A touch savoury with balancing tannins.
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Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2016
Posted: May 1, 2019
This very classy young Hawke’s Bay red was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (54% new). Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, inviting bouquet, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, but not heavy, with highly concentrated, red berry and plum…
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Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Merlot 2018
Posted: May 1, 2019
This is a ‘fruit-driven’ style, mouthfilling and full-coloured, with strong, fresh, plummy, spicy flavours. An uncomplicated but attractive red, it’s delicious young. $23
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Richard Hamilton Lot 148 McLaren Vale Merlot 2016
Posted: May 1, 2019
A full, soft and fleshy wine bright with varietal fruit and with a slightly drying finish.
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Gallagher Canberra District Merlot 2016
Posted: May 1, 2019
Cherry Ripe aromas and comparatively light palate with fruit, tannins and acid all in balance.
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Arlequin Barossa Valley Merlot 2017
Posted: May 1, 2019
A nose of toasty oak and ripe red fruits with very good depth of fruit flavours with tannin dryness and nice use of quality oak.
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Giesen Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Posted: May 1, 2019
Lifted aromas of raspberry and toffee apples with firm powerful woody/fruit palate and grippy tannins.
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Majella Coonawarra Merlot 2017
Posted: May 1, 2019
Beautifully fragrant nose with a lovely perfumed lift and a luscious palate full of rich ripe fruit cake-like flavours dashed with smoky peppery characters.
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Sirromet Wines Signature Collection Granite Belt Merlot 2016
Posted: May 1, 2019
A nicely maturing earthy nose and plenty of powerful mouthfilling ripe plum flavours with huge luscious tannins.
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Brangayne Of Orange Orange Merlot 2017
Posted: May 1, 2019
Bright elevated menthol aromas and a slippery smooth palate soft with peppery plum flavours and layered with tight grainy tannins.
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Talisman Geographe Merlot 2016
Posted: May 1, 2019
Perfumed mulberry bouquet with a rustic note. Palate is rich with savoury interest and has a grippy tannin backbone.
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Lake Chalice The Falcon Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017
Posted: March 7, 2019
This generous red was matured for 10 months in French oak barriques. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with strong, plummy, slightly spicy and earthy flavours, and a moderately smooth finish. Priced right. $19
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Lindsay Wine Estate Barossa Valley Merlot 2015
Posted: January 12, 2019
Ripe Satsuma plum bouquet with an attractive richness of floral cherry flavours.
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