CLARENDON HILLS Brookman Vineyard Merlot, McLaren Vale Clarendon Hills’ Brookman Vineyard is among the highest in McLaren Vale, 250m higher and 10km north-east of the McLaren Vale township. The vines were planted on clay soils in the late 1960s and are dry-grown. Grapes are hand-picked 2-3 weeks later than on the flats, following a long, mild and generally consistent ripening period. Fermentation as whole berries, using wild yeasts, precedes 18 months maturation in tight-grained French Oak, 85% new, the rest between one and four years old. The final wine is a barrel selection. Brookman Merlot is noted for mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, spice and Christmas cake aromas, opulence, richness of flavour and softness with finely balanced tannins.

"Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, the 2002 Merlot Brookman Vineyard offers complex aromas of sweet espresso roast, black cherries, and white chocolate. This is a thick, juicy Merlot with plenty of structure and tannin as well as considerable intensity and impressive volume. It may be the finest Merlot ever produced in Australia. It will drink well for 10-15 years. Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earths greatest winemakers, and obviously a top-notch viticulturist given his obsession with sourcing extraordinary fruit from ancient McLaren Vale vineyards. 91 points Drink 2004-2019" Wine Advocate #155 (Oct 2004) Robert Parker

A velvety rich Merlot with delicious plum and berry flavours that is accentuated by a soft and pleasing oak aroma. Enjoy with char grilled Beef Eye Fillet on mash and a side of freshly steamed asparagus.

A luscious Gold-medal Merlot from the great John Quarisa. It's smooth and complex, with velvety black forest fruits and a juicy plummy note. The palate is silky and lovely. It’s a brilliant partner to pan-fried lamb cutlets. John Quarisa’s lovely Caravan Petite Sirah has become a cult-classic with our customers. But will his velvety Merlot knock the Petite Sirah off its perch?

Jean-Marc Sauboua was born and raised in the heart of Grand Cru Bordeaux and has a book filled with useful contacts. He’s a winemaker too (trained at Château Haut Brion) as well as a top Bordeaux Buyer, hence both the great quality and value of this juicy claret. Not only that, 2017 was a year where yields were down 40%. Jean-Marc tasted his way through a few dozen vats of wine to pick out the best. He then helped the winemaker put a blend together that had just the right balance of forward ripe fruit and silky tannins to make this a great value early drinker. Decant

Indulge in the richness of McGuigan Gold Merlot, a fruity red wine from our new Gold Label range, perfect for everyday celebrations. Balanced with aromas of fresh berries and subtle spice, this medium-bodied delight is ideal for cozy evenings at home or winter gatherings. Its velvety texture and hints of cedar make it an excellent choice to accompany hearty dishes or to simply enjoy on its own.