Climbing Merlot
The high altitude Orange region is producing some outstanding Merlot and this release, made by Debbie Lauritz, is a great example. Aromas of dried herb and currant are supported with sweet fruit flavours.
Wolf Blass Eaglehawk Merlot
Merlot has become popular because it offers a softness of texture while still providing ripe, plummy flavours. Wolf Blass come to the party here with an an easy drinking, fruity style of dry red.
Pierro LTCf Cabernet Merlot
LTCf stands for 'little touch of cabernet franc'. This classic Bordeaux blend has plenty of rich and concentrated flavours with fine tannins.
Cleanskin No 49 Soft Merlot
This soft and luscious merlot from South Australia has a lovely nose of berries and dried fruit. An easy drinking fruity red with Merlot's classic supple feel. Super smooth on the finish for those who like their reds easy on the palate.
Château d'Issan Margaux
The 2010 Chateau d'Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, showing 'classic Margaux' in its perfume, finesse and apparent elegance. Soils are gravel and clay, which contributes to the high-tones of perfume from the wine, and though an estate that is neccesarily clawing its way back to a higher profile, is doing so with deeds in bottle over showmanship. On its side, the vineyard is dense with older vines that naturally offer lower yields, allowing for a higher quality of fruit for the winemaking team, in turn producing a wine of stellar quality from 2010.
Fraser Gallop Cabernet Merlot
Since the first release in 2002, Fraser Gallop Estate have gone from strength to strength, picking up a Jimmy Watson Medal along the way. The Cabernet Merlot is a lovely example of the blend which is so at home in Margaret River. Leafy mulberry on the nose with cassis in the background, and a soft , flavoursome palate. Delicious!
Cleanskin WE3 Cabernet Merlot
Attractive blackcurrant fruit characters are well matched with toasty oak in this easy drinking blend which delivers outstanding value for money.
Rosabrook Cabernet Merlot
This 2014 Rosabrook Cabernet Merlot is one of the Margaret River's signature wine styles. Great licks of black fruit from the Cabernet Sauvignon interlaced with the smooth plum characters on Merlot. It is a beautifully made wine with great balance and a lengthy finish. It will be great with meat dishes or even a cheese platter. Owned by Calneggia Family Vineyards, one of Margaret River's pioneering grape growers with winemaker legend Brian Fletcher pulling the winemaking levers.
Printhie Mountain Range Merlot
Printhie is a stand-out producer from the emerging region of Orange and this Merlot has a complex bouquet of red fruits, violets and spice. The palate has fine acidity and gentle tannin providing attractive structure and length.
Paul Mas Estate Cabernet Merlot
Produced from old hillside vineyards in the Herault valley in the south of France, this polished blend from Paul Mas is smoothly textured on the palate with dark berry and sweet spice flavours. Outstanding value.