Merlot from France – Bordeaux  17.5-/20
Very dark, near impenetrable black-red colour with purple hues on rim. The nose is full with soft, ripe, inky black and red berry fruit aromas lifted with floral and jam notes and complexed by herbal green olive elements. Medium-bodied, gently luscious and sweet black and red jammy fruit flavours show with some attractive richness. Some toasty oak flavours and dark charry, cherry and confectionary flavours emerge in the glass, with nuances of fresh herbs. Supple tannins and discreet acidity provide good balance and add to the brightness and sweetness on the palate, and lead to a moderately long, toast and herb flavoured finish. This is an up-front and accessible Merlot-based wine with an amalgam of black jammy fruit with toast oak and herbal nuances. Match with barbecued red meat dishes over the next 4-5+ years. A blend of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc from younger vines, fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in seasoned oak barrels. 17.5-/20 Jul 2012 RRP $24.95
A blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, 50-60% fermented in vat to 13.5% alc. Dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, this has a bright, aromatic nose of dark berry and plum fruits, very primary in expression. Lush and juicy on palate, this has plenty of sweet jammy-berry flavours alongside supple tannin structure and good fresh acid bite. This is a wine of immediacy with sweetness and fleshiness to match with pasta, pizza and barbecued red meats over the next 4+ years. 17.0+/20 Nov 2011 RRP $19.95
|
|
Merlot from France – Bordeaux18/20
85% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented to 13.5% alc., the winr aged 15 months in 20% new French oak barrels. Very full, saturated, purple-black colour. This has a full, evenly presented, slightly reserved bouquet with well-integrated ripe, black berry and dark plum fruits with subtle nuances of lifted dark herbs, savoury olive notes and minerals. Medium-full bodied, densely packed flavours of ripe, black plum and berried fruits fill the palate and are supported by firm, well-extracted tannins forming a fulsome structure and mouthfeel. The textures are fine-grained and with gentle acidity, the palate is one of harmony. Oaking is sensitive, and this has good weight, presence and vinosity. This is a ripe and well-structured Merlot-based wine, the fruit still a little brooding and shy. It will develop greater nuance and match roast lamb or hard cheeses over the next 10+ years. 18.0/20 Jul 2012 RRP $29.95
|
|
|