Still needs a good 3+ hours in the decanter to open up, otherwise upon opening it is a a little hallow through the mid palate, but it does flesh out with time open. Black cherry abundance, touch of plum jam, and undertones of dusty herbs. Juicy upfront and a savoury finish, 5 hours in it still has grip. Ageing very nicely, no rush here. Drink 2028
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Crunchy and perky satsuma plum and red currents. Spice (it’s there, but it’s not sweet spice it’s dark savoury spice) and more savoury black olive, green pepper, dance in a cloud of cooling methol and very fine oak.
Savoury tannins pull the dense, muscular and still very youthful medium bodied wine long. Tannins are fine, a touch of bitter black tea and menthol (not alcohol glow, it’s menthol) provide adhesion and texture through the finish.
Superb balance and density for a wine of this size. So much complexity for 28$ paid. If this had Tapanappa or Wynns on the label it would be $100. Lesser known region and unknown maker makes this wine a bargain right now at Dan Murphys in their Under Wraps range.
A great opportunity to trial a fantastic grape, vineyard, vintage and maker combination for the first time.
Leave it alone for 3-5 more years and have another look for those elegant fruit flavours to fatten up with truffle and undergrowth that Merlot from these parts tend to develop with time.
This is a unique Merlot - I really like the concept of different graftings in a space where one has dominated for so long in Australia. Notes of cedar and oak on the nose. Initial mouthful full of oak - this wine has a few years to say the least - but eases over the drinking of the bottle. Air for an hour before drinking, too. Let this one breathe. Cassis on the pallate with return notes of graphite, earthy undertones. Finish is medium as are the legs. Dry tannins, soft acidity. Very drinkable. Excited to see what else Mérite does.
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Colour deep ruby pink to clear edges purple hues 15/15 Nose medium intensity , elegant subtle red/black/blue fruits ,cherry, black current/ mulberry hints of chocolate , earthy , tobacco leaf oak spice cedar ,toasty 28/30 Palate med to full bodied rich vibrant fresh , fruit fine grain tannins balanced acidity nice complexity , med + length finish. 41/44 Overall Lovely precise merlot flavours excellent balance and complexity 9/11
I had 4 merlots tonight , order of preference Stefano Lubiana 2012 94 points Merite Merlot 2015 93+ points Blue Poles 2016 93 points Highbank 2015 90 points
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Drank over two nights. On the first night - slightly closed, tart and with notable, but fine tannin structure. A savoury, umami note overlayed notes of red fruits, cherries and kirsch and with a subtle vanilla note from the oak. On the second night, the wine really had opened up and was dangerously drinkable. The mouthfeel/tannins had really softened out in a good way and more of the minerality and texture came through on the palate. Sweeter, vanilla and sweet spice notes from the oak started to show more on the palate and nose, along with a more darker fruit spectrum and cassis. Overall, this is an excellent wine now, but in time will become a great wine. Glad I bought a case and interested to see how this will develop in 10 years.
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Desperately wanted to like this. 2 hours in the decanter and it’s just not going away, slight TCA, masking the wine. That being, texture of the wine really starts to shine, you can tell it is well made and has quite a few years ahead. Either way #disappointed the cork failed
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Colour deep ruby pink to clear edges purple hues 15/15 Nose elegent medium intensity , subtle red/black/blue fruits , hints of chocolate , earthy , tobacco leaf 27/30 Palate med to full bodied rich vibrant fruit fine grain tannins balanced acidity nice complexity , med length finish. 41/44 Overall I feel all the elements are there for a good wine , just needs time to intergrate and develop , I’ll be interested to try this again in a few years 9/11
10/1/2023 - red.red.vino wrote:
A lot has changed in a year. Still holding strong, still a great merlot, but the window is closing, drink up in the next 2 years.
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12/9/2022 - red.red.vino wrote:
Still needs a good 3+ hours in the decanter to open up, otherwise upon opening it is a a little hallow through the mid palate, but it does flesh out with time open. Black cherry abundance, touch of plum jam, and undertones of dusty herbs. Juicy upfront and a savoury finish, 5 hours in it still has grip. Ageing very nicely, no rush here. Drink 2028
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9/12/2021 - WineHors wrote:
Cork
Herbaceous nose
Medium weight, very cab-like, savoury, earthy, a bit of tannin at end note.
Very interesting and unlike Merlot.
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2/19/2021 - red.red.vino wrote:
3 hour decant, dry gripping tannins, this has quite a few years to go yet. Very well made. Will try again maybe late 2023. Outstanding Merlot.
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5/1/2020 - Screwcaps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Previous notes are bang on. Day two.
Deep and pristine ruby red.
Crunchy and perky satsuma plum and red currents. Spice (it’s there, but it’s not sweet spice it’s dark savoury spice) and more savoury black olive, green pepper, dance in a cloud of cooling methol and very fine oak.
Savoury tannins pull the dense, muscular and still very youthful medium bodied wine long. Tannins are fine, a touch of bitter black tea and menthol (not alcohol glow, it’s menthol) provide adhesion and texture through the finish.
Superb balance and density for a wine of this size. So much complexity for 28$ paid. If this had Tapanappa or Wynns on the label it would be $100. Lesser known region and unknown maker makes this wine a bargain right now at Dan Murphys in their Under Wraps range.
A great opportunity to trial a fantastic grape, vineyard, vintage and maker combination for the first time.
Leave it alone for 3-5 more years and have another look for those elegant fruit flavours to fatten up with truffle and undergrowth that Merlot from these parts tend to develop with time.
4.4/5. 93-94 with upside.
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4/29/2020 - AusWineJuan Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a unique Merlot - I really like the concept of different graftings in a space where one has dominated for so long in Australia. Notes of cedar and oak on the nose. Initial mouthful full of oak - this wine has a few years to say the least - but eases over the drinking of the bottle. Air for an hour before drinking, too. Let this one breathe. Cassis on the pallate with return notes of graphite, earthy undertones. Finish is medium as are the legs. Dry tannins, soft acidity. Very drinkable. Excited to see what else Mérite does.
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4/14/2020 - LindsayM Likes this wine:
Colour deep ruby pink to clear edges purple hues 15/15
Nose medium intensity , elegant subtle red/black/blue fruits ,cherry, black current/ mulberry hints of chocolate , earthy , tobacco leaf oak spice cedar ,toasty 28/30
Palate med to full bodied rich vibrant fresh , fruit fine grain tannins balanced acidity nice complexity , med + length finish. 41/44
Overall Lovely precise merlot flavours excellent balance and complexity 9/11
I had 4 merlots tonight , order of preference
Stefano Lubiana 2012 94 points
Merite Merlot 2015 93+ points
Blue Poles 2016 93 points
Highbank 2015 90 points
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2/24/2020 - rsingh Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank over two nights. On the first night - slightly closed, tart and with notable, but fine tannin structure. A savoury, umami note overlayed notes of red fruits, cherries and kirsch and with a subtle vanilla note from the oak. On the second night, the wine really had opened up and was dangerously drinkable. The mouthfeel/tannins had really softened out in a good way and more of the minerality and texture came through on the palate. Sweeter, vanilla and sweet spice notes from the oak started to show more on the palate and nose, along with a more darker fruit spectrum and cassis. Overall, this is an excellent wine now, but in time will become a great wine. Glad I bought a case and interested to see how this will develop in 10 years.
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12/8/2019 - Vaughanwallace wrote: 91 Points
Ok. Big juicy berries. Not really my cup of tea.
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12/7/2019 - red.red.vino wrote: flawed
Desperately wanted to like this. 2 hours in the decanter and it’s just not going away, slight TCA, masking the wine. That being, texture of the wine really starts to shine, you can tell it is well made and has quite a few years ahead. Either way #disappointed the cork failed
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9/9/2019 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 94 Points
Colour deep ruby pink to clear edges purple hues 15/15
Nose elegent medium intensity , subtle red/black/blue fruits , hints of chocolate , earthy , tobacco leaf 27/30
Palate med to full bodied rich vibrant fruit fine grain tannins balanced acidity nice complexity , med length finish. 41/44
Overall I feel all the elements are there for a good wine , just needs time to intergrate and develop , I’ll be interested to try this again in a few years 9/11
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7/26/2018 - Vaughanwallace wrote: 92 Points
Dark inky red. Medium to full bodied. Chewy fruit. Long finish. Give it time.
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