Posted: June 15, 2017
A sweet hit of cassis fruit on the nose and a pleasant, youthful, cassis palate. 3-5
Comments Off on Gapsted Hidden Story South Australia Victoria Merlot 2012 / 0 View / June 15, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
A soft elegant merlot with subtle plum aromas and a gentle palate with an impact of cherry, strawberry and spice flavours.
Comments Off on Gartelmann Rylstone Merlot 2012 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Medicinal characters on the nose. Soft palate with bright plum flavours and lots of tannins.
Comments Off on Moppity Vineyards Lock & Key Single Vineyard Hilltops Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Leafy notes to the nose. Powerful drying tannic palate with some varietal fruit pushing through.
Comments Off on Philip Shaw The Conductor Orange Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Deeply coloured Northland red, mouthfilling and firm, with strong blackberry, plum and spice flavours, good complexity and a perfumed bouquet.
Comments Off on Marsden Bay of Islands The Winemakers Daughter Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Lifted mix of black olive, tobacco and plum aromas. Nice palate structure with fruit sweetness, mocha oak and soft tannins.
Comments Off on Due South Denmark Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Black plums, some chocolate and leafy notes to the nose with more of the same on the palate.
Comments Off on Pinelli Estate Reserve Swan Valley Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Blood plums on the nose with a floral lift and lovely fleshy palate with a good tannin kick.
Comments Off on La Petite Ferme Franschhoek Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Attractive spiciness to the berry/plum bouquet with good chewy flavour persistence on a somewhat austere palate.
Comments Off on Guardian Peak Western Cape Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: May 14, 2017
Some depth of plum-like aromas. Good sweet plum intensity to the palate.” Drink now with food.”
Comments Off on Burk Salter Moorunde Reserve Riverland Merlot 2012 / 0 View / May 14, 2017
Posted: May 14, 2017
High acid style with plenty of chocolate, cherry and raspberry aromas and flavours. Good tannin backbone.
Comments Off on St Anne’s Big Rivers Merlot 2013 / 0 View / May 14, 2017
Posted: May 5, 2017
Aromas of raisins and plums with good depth of spicy plum flavours on a drying palate.
Comments Off on Mudgee Wines Reserve Mudgee Merlot 2014 / 0 View / May 5, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Complex nose with lovely fruit cake aromas and spicy blue fruit on a soft supple palate. 3-5
Comments Off on St Anne’s Vineyard Perricoota Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
A simple, well structured, quaffer. Herbaceous/plum bouquet with sweet spicy notes and generously flavoured palate with firm tannins. 5+
Comments Off on Third Wheel Western Australia Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Appealing old fashioned style with plums and spices on the nose and up front dark fruit flavours with grainy tannins.
Comments Off on Lions Lair Western Australia Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Complex nose with lovely fruit cake aromas and spicy blue fruit on a soft supple palate. 3-5
Comments Off on St Anne’s Vineyard Perricoota Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
A simple, well structured, quaffer. Herbaceous/plum bouquet with sweet spicy notes and generously flavoured palate with firm tannins. 5+
Comments Off on Third Wheel Western Australia Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Appealing old fashioned style with plums and spices on the nose and up front dark fruit flavours with grainy tannins.
Comments Off on Lions Lair Western Australia Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Enjoyable young, this is a vibrant, ‘fruit-driven’ style of red, grown in the Wairau Valley and seasoned with American oak. Still purple-flushed, it has fresh, berryish flavours to the fore, with hints of plums and spices, gentle tannins and a…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Marlborough Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
A generosity of plums, mocha and subtle spice with a drying high acid drive and long savory finish.
Comments Off on King River Estate King Valley Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Fresh plum and spicy red berry fruit, hints of leather and a dash of white pepper.
Comments Off on Shaw Family Vintners Moonraker McLaren Vale Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
Spicy and chocolaty on the nose with a simple primary fruit palate.
Comments Off on Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 26, 2017
A lighter style with soft merlot fruit aromas and earthy plum flavours.
Comments Off on James Estate The Estate Hunter Valley Merlot 2011 / 0 View / April 26, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This generous, easy-drinking red is deeply coloured, with mouthfilling body and strong, ripe blackcurrant/plum flavours. A fruit-driven style, with a gentle seasoning of oak and a very smooth finish, it’s enjoyable young. $17
Comments Off on Brancott Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Forward in its appeal, but still youthful, this deeply coloured red is full-bodied (15% alc/vol), with gentle tannins, strong, ripe plum and spice flavours, hints of coffee and licorice, and a seasoning of sweet oak (French and American, 40% new)….
Comments Off on Sileni Estate Selection Cut Cane Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Deeply coloured Hawke’s Bay red, mouthfilling, very fresh and smooth, with strong, ripe, plummy, slightly spicy and nutty flavours, and gentle tannins. Delicious young. $38
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
From mature, very low-cropped (3 tonnes/ha) vines at Kina, this is a full-bodied and generous red, drinking well now. Matured in one to two year-old French oak barriques, it is deeply coloured, with ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, a hint of…
Comments Off on Renato Nelson Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This is a powerful, very ripe-tasting, sturdy red. Deep and youthful in colour, it is fragrant, rich and supple, with very generous plum/spice flavours, hints of licorice and nuts, well-integrated oak and gentle tannins. Best drinking 2019+. $27
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Toasty plum aromas with smoky oak overtones. Palate is soft and elegant with light berry fruit but showing some complexity.
Comments Off on Tamburlaine Reserve Orange Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
A closed nose with a pretty, soft, purple fruit palate and lovely light tannins creating an easy drinking style.
Comments Off on Gartelmann Joey Orange Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Well made bright, simple commercial style of plums, chocolate and spices with ripe tannins.
Comments Off on Pure Vision Organic South Australia Merlot 2016 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Holding up well! Fresh oaky nose with some fruity notes, and lovely oak/sweet fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
A good wine ready for drinking now. Nice persistence of black fruit flavours with an oaky finish.
Comments Off on Bird in Hand Nest Egg Adelaide Hills Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
A good leafy varietal with plum fruit characters and some tarry aged notes developing.
Comments Off on Pertaringa Stage Left Adelaide Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Subdued nose; some berry fruit. Quite drying in the mouth with nice level of sweet fruit.
Comments Off on Woody Nook Margaret River Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 19, 2017
Slight mintiness to the blackcurrant nose. Nicely rounded palate; generous fruit flavours, soft tannin presence and a little oak. 3-5
Comments Off on Brygon Reserve Lion’s Lair Reserve Western Australia Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 19, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
This full-coloured Northland red was French oak-aged for 18 months. Fresh and youthful, it has good depth of plummy, spicy flavours, showing some complexity, and a smooth finish. Fragrant, generous and supple, it’s worth cellaring. $30
Comments Off on Marsden Bay of Islands The Winemaker’s Daughter Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Drinking well in its youth, this is a smooth red with a hint of sweet oak and good depth of berryish, spicy flavour. $17
Comments Off on Stoneleigh Marlborough Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Deeply coloured, fleshy wine. Rich, plummy flavours, with a hint of herbs and a seasoning of sweet oak. Firmly structured, with savoury notes adding complexity. $22
Comments Off on Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
A lovely soft, and very drinkable, merlot that’s fresh and lively with leafy/capsicum varietal fruit characters.
Comments Off on Four Sisters Central Victoria Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Bright minty nose showing “thoughtful use of oak”. Great texture and length to the dark berry palate with an oaky finish.
Comments Off on Blue Pyrenees Estate Pyrenees Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
A big rich mix of ripe plum and chocolate cake characters with hints of salted caramels. Developing nicely.
Comments Off on Pure Vision South Australia Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Youthful, full-coloured, Gimblett Gravels red with strong berry/spice flavours, slightly earthy and herbal notes, and a smooth finish. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Organic Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Full-coloured, berryish, slightly herbal red with plenty of flavour and a moderately firm finish. $19
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Slightly herby and earthy red, blended from estate-grown merlot (85%), cabernet sauvignon (10%) and cabernet franc (5%), French oak-aged for a year. Medium to full-bodied, with good freshness and flavour depth. $25 (UK)
Comments Off on Left Field Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Youthful, vibrantly fruity red, barrel-aged for six months. Floral, with strong, plummy flavours , hints of spices and herbs, restrained oak and gentle tannins. $17
Comments Off on Haha Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Floral, fruit-packed, youthful red, matured for 10 months with French and American oak staves. Plenty of plummy, spicy flavour, with a touch of complexity and moderately firm tannins. Fine value. $15
Comments Off on Thornbury Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Generous, youthful wine, full-coloured, with fresh plum, spice and herb flavours, and finely balanced tannins. Attractive, moderately complex red, described by one judge as a “more Bordeaux style”. Worth cellaring. $19
Comments Off on Sileni Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 5, 2017
Posted: April 5, 2017
Supple, generous red, estate-grown in the Esk Valley and French oak-aged. Deeply coloured and weighty, with berryish, slightly herbal flavours, strong and smooth. $30 (A)
Comments Off on Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 5, 2017