Merlot

Margaret River

Merlot

Another cracking good merlot from a vineyard that consistently produces some of the very best examples of this variety from anywhere in the country. Perhaps a more powerful and deeply intense version of the great 2023, but still with that elegant refinement and purity of fruit expression. Floral, perfumed notes on the nose, with red berry and light fruitcake nuances....

Margaret River

Merlot

Peccavi has made a bit of a thing with Merlot over the years, and this is another exceptional wine showing what can be achieved with this variety. It was all hand-picked and then hand-sorted, with fermentation involving hand plunging and regular pump-overs. It was macerated for an extended period and then spent two years in French oak. So, plenty has...

Margaret River

Merlot

This vineyard has been producing some of Australia's best merlots in recent years. This one is perhaps the most refined and elegantly poised of any I can recall. The vintage has clearly played an important part. The nose shows all of those black fruit, spicy, slightly mocha-like characters. While the seamlessly integrated medium to full-bodied palate delivers with such exquisite...

Pemberton

Merlot

A structured and firm example of Pemberton merlot. The nose is a mix of black fruits, dark plum, and slightly raisiny fruitcake. But everything is delivered with restraint and poise. This is a merlot of some standing and substance. The structure is quite firm, and yet the sweet, supple fruits fill it out quite beautifully. Tannins are well managed, and...

Pemberton

Merlot

I have to say, this is one of the better merlots yet released from Smithbrook. It opens with a lovely mix of red berries and a subtle fruitcake complexity, with just a little more blue-fruit character, which is fairly typical of this region. It's medium-bodied, as you'd expect, with a plush, fruit-driven palate, balanced by fine, slightly chalky tannins, and...

Margaret River

Merlot

There is absolute purity and poise in this merlot from Margaret River. The wine is all about buoyant, vibrant fruit, with blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and a fine lift of red berry. The palate is seamless and tightly woven, with a core of chalky tannin and fine oak. It has a light, leafy finish and is ideal for drinking in the...

Geographe

Merlot

Some years ago, Talisman made the important decision to add some different clones of merlot to the vineyard, and it has started to pay dividends. This is a merlot that offers the depth and the fruit weight with the structure and the suppleness that you get from the best merlots. The aromas have a deep blackberry, black olive character with...

Margaret River

Merlot

A standout merlot that confirms Ribbon Vale as one of Australia’s best sites for the variety. Dark fruits and lifted florals dominate the nose, while the palate shows generosity and effortlessness supported by structure and poise. There’s depth and vibrancy here, carried with elegance. A wine of great expression with the potential for extended ageing.

Blackwood Valley

Merlot

Merlot had continued to be a strong variety from this vineyard. It has structure and poise while displaying the seductive perfumes and succulent middle palate you expect from this variety. Deliciously generous and plump through the middle with a sustained and impressive finish.

Margaret River

Merlot

This one comes from Geographe in what was an excellent season. It's loaded with spicy red fruits and delivers with a palate that is medium weight but with excellent fruit intensity. The feature is its suppleness on the palate, with the support of very fine tannins and just gentle oak treatment. A lot to like about this, and you'll get...

Margaret River

Merlot

A lot of work was put into rejuvenating this vineyard when Moss acquired it, and it has certainly paid off handsomely with merlot in particular. It’s now recognised as one of Australia’s consistently best. This is another cracker combining the suppleness of the fruit with power and poise. You are getting a serious red wine here with deeply concentrated fruit...

Geographe

Merlot

This now mature merlot is really showing what can be achieved with this variety. It has always been a strong performer at Talisman. Perfumed notes of earthy violet with emerging leathery spicy nuances. Balanced medium bodied palate has structure and definition to support the smooth fruit combination of leathery black olive and savoury dark fruits.

Pemberton

Merlot

This is a variety that is certainly heading in the right direction. It makes a real and quite bold statement of poise, structure and layered fruit intensity. The aromas are an engaging combination of blackcurrant, dark chocolate and black olive with a fine minerality. The palate really kicks in to deliver on structure, power and fruit intensity. And it’s all...

Swan Valley

Merlot

Well, you don’t often see wines of this age being released. It provides compelling evidence of the age worthiness of this variety when you get some good fruit quality. The bright fruits of the nose are only just beginning to change into that leathery spicy character of age. The palate has developed really beautifully with a lovely viscous coating accentuating...

Swan Valley

Merlot

A slightly less robust and prettier version than the excellent ’22. Bright spicy plum and blackberry with vanillin oak nuances. The palate is medium bodied and totally seamless with a fine merging of fine tannins, subtle oak and quite beautiful fruit. Has a sweet fruit character balanced by a savoury dry finish.

Swan Valley

Merlot

Rather appealing scented aromas of black fruit cake and spicy plum with a layer of sweet vanillin oak. Oodles of dark fruits fill the palate with a plum and spice combination lifted with some fresh blackberries. Smooth medium bodied an immensely appealing.

Margaret River

Merlot

This merlot is sourced from the Cullen Vineyard. The vines are now quite old and pump out some mighty good fruit of intensity and deep concentration. After fermentation it went into oak of which a third was new, for 14 months. Black fruits on the nose with subtle meaty charcuterie touches and rich fruit cake. There is power and drive...

Pemberton

Merlot

A really encouraging merlot that shows the progress these guys have made with this variety in recent years. This is no soft and mushy fruit bomb merlot. This is merlot loaded with dark fruits and supported with a structure tannin and fine oak balance. Beautifully poised and balanced with a slightly gravelly influence adding to the textural feel.

Geographe

Merlot

While less opulent than the plump 2020, it more than compensates with its elegance and silkiness. It takes advantage of the new clones that are now part of the vineyard. The result is a merlot that has structure and poise but at the same time retains the beautiful perfumes that are part of its DNA. A little savouriness complements the...

Geographe

Merlot

Consistently one of the finest merlots released in WA. And this from the opulent '20 vintage is a cracker. Talisman started using new clones a few years ago, and the result has been a merlot that brings structure and definition to the table. The nose displays dark plum with a minerally graphite edge and a slightly earthy blackcurrant nuance that...

Margaret River

Merlot

When Australia's finest merlots are discussed this one must be in the mix. Recent vintages have been stunning, and I have to say this one, which combines the concentrated intensity of the small 2020 vintage with such supreme elegance, is as good as any released and that includes the 2018. In fact, stylistically, I think this velvety smooth, perfumed and...

Swan Valley

Merlot

A wine which shows the versatility of the Swan Valley. It's a soft and supple merlot displaying nice fruit sweetness balanced with a fine tannin thread. Plenty of dark berry flavours fill the palate with that slightly chalky character providing balance and poise.

Margaret River

Merlot

Blackwood Valley has proved to be one of the better regions for merlot. This is merlot with structure and poise reflecting both season and region. It's still tightly held with a firm cover of tannin and oak capturing the fruit, which shows a slightly gravelly grainy character. Needs a little more time open up.

Blackwood Valley

Merlot

A neat red wine that offers plenty for this price. It comes from the Blackwood Valley and has that slightly earthy edge to the vibrant red fruit flavours. Strikes a nice balance of chalky tannins and sweet oak. Has a light pudding and chocolate combination delivered in a smooth velvety fashion.

Pemberton

Merlot

A plush medium bodied merlot. Red berry and fruit cake aromas with a little prune juice addition. The palate is soft, supported with fine chalky tannins and understated vanillin oak. Rounded and fruit driven. Ideal for current drinking. The extra year has introduced a layer of cedary and slightly spicy complexity.