Merlot Tasting

Sydney, Australia
Tasted Saturday, July 13, 2013 by CamWheeler with 482 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 1998 Rockford Sémillon Local Growers 89 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Some nettle, light honeycomb, lemon curd and vanilla. Drinking well now, there is still good fruit density on the palate and it has medium length.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Peter Lehmann Sémillon Reserve 90 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Honey, pear, butter and plenty of orange and lemon aromas. There was a hit of sulphur at first as well but this dissipated quickly. The palate has good richness and cleansing acidity sweeps through. In very good condition and youthful enough that it will last a few more years at least.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 (1 Note)

Flight 3 (1 Note)

Flight 4 (4 Notes)

Flight 5 (3 Notes)

  • 1998 Petaluma Merlot Coonawarra 87 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Closed nose - some briar, cinnamon and cherry but all very held back. Palate is medium bodied and is similarly not very expressive. Comes off as boring at this point in time.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1999 Petaluma Merlot Coonawarra 91 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Very good savoury character here - earth, bright cherry, blueberry and plum. The same balance between sweet fruit and savoury earth continues on the palate and I really like the depth to it. A very appealing wine with time to develop further. After two recent flawed bottles, it was nice to finally get a good one!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Petaluma Merlot Coonawarra 88 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Dark fruit on the nose with blackcurrant, plum and a fair dose of oak as well. The palate is obvious, with the oak, tannins and punchy fruit competing for attention rather than than working harmoniously. Needs more time, but even then I don't know that it will come together before the fruit fades.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 6 (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Craggy Range Sophia 91 Points

    New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels

    Upfront fruit on the nose with plum, red berries, cherry and smoke. The palate has more of the same sweet fruit and it feels quite plush but there is good depth and structure to it overall. A very nice wine with plenty of time on its side.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Hillcrest Vineyards Merlot Premium 91 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Rhubarb, stemmy and floral with some pepper and redcurrant as well. The palate is well balanced and I like the soft fruit element. I think this might be best consumed now and over the shorter term.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 7 (1 Note)

  • 1998 Irvine Grand Merlot 91 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Musk, spice, cherry and plum aromas. The palate has good complexity and it is still quite youthful with the tannins starting to fold into the fruit. Very good and will still get better.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 8 (3 Notes)

  • 2006 Woodlands Merlot Réserve de la Cave 90 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Herbal undergrowth with redcurrant and kirsch. The palate is well structured underneath a layer (or two) of sweet red fruit. Miniscule production of 300 bottles.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Yarra Yering Dry Red N°3 90 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Pepper, clove, dust, licorice, graphite and a hint of menthol - quite complex really. Bold fruit on the palate with some pepper influence too. Not overly easy to like, but plenty here to think about.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2006 Hillcrest Vineyards Merlot Village 88 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Cherry and plum with a hint of earth. Medium bodied, the fruit isn't overly deep but it is drinking well for an entry level wine at this age. I liked this from a pure drinking perspective.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 9 (1 Note)

  • 2005 Kay Brothers Merlot Amery Vineyards 88 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    A big wine - floral, blackberry, blackcurrant and licorice. Rich fruit on the palate too, it has some good length to it and the boldness of the fruit gives it some appeal without being over the top.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 10 (2 Notes)

Flight 11 (2 Notes)

  • 2007 Vieux Château Certan 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Graphite driven nose with some greener elements behind like tarragon and capsicum - your enjoyment of this wine may depend on your reaction to these characters. The palate flows well, I like the restraint and the green isn't as noticeable. Well structured but may not be a long term prospect.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2001 Château Barde-Haut 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Graphite and spice with some musk and raspberry. The palate shows off fine tannin grip and it is still youthful at 12 years of age. Hopefully the tannins become even more integrated over the next 6-7 years.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 12 (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Lark Hill Merlot 88 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District

    Spice, earth, redcurrant and pepper. Palate is close to being fully resolved, it has some soft fruit with savoury earthy elements as well. Drink now, it is quite enjoyable.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2012 Lucy Margaux / Domaine Lucci Merlot 89 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

    Lots of spice with cinnamon prominent, some tar and red cherry. That red fruit shows on the palate too in a lighter style. Fresh and with good length. A different style of Merlot that I really did like.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 13 (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Blue Poles Merlot Reserve 90 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Soot, raspberry and briar. Palate is well balanced, with medium complexity, mostly from some savoury elements and restrained fruit. Drink over the next 4-5 years.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Blue Poles Merlot Reserve 89 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Tar, floral and light oak influence. Acidity gives the wine great brightness along with the restrained red fruit. No hurry to drink, though I would check back in 4-5 years.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 14 (4 Notes)

  • 1970 Redman Claret 88 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Menthol, leather and a hint of caramel. Holding on to life on the palate, the tannins are totally resolved. Drink now.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1998 Tatachilla Cabernet Sauvignon Padthaway 89 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway

    Tomato leaf, smoke and leather. Medium bodied, the palate is nicely long. Drink now and over the short term.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2003 Lark Hill Shiraz 89 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District

    Floral, spice, earth and smoked meat. Still quite youthful on the palate, with plenty more spice. Well balanced, drink over the next couple of years.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1990 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Cherry and leather with some leafy character. Right in the slot for drinking with great balance and still good acid and fruit to carry the flavour. Better than a previous bottle.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 15 (2 Notes)

Flight 16 (2 Notes)

×
×