Ash Ridge Estate Bridge Pa Merlot 2019 $21.99 From those russet-red, iron rich soils of the Bridge Pa Triangle comes this dark, inky-scarlet sensation from Lauren Swift and the team at Ash Ridge. Showing earthy, dried herb, tar, black olive and mushroomy notes drifting across the blueberry and blackberry mid-palate, it’s a soft yet generously … Read More
merlot
Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019
Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019 $35 This absolute mouthquake of a blend is comprised of 78% Malbec, 14% merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and I am absolutely in love with it! Scented with cedar, blueberry, black doris plum and smoky vanilla vavoom, the palate is saturated with boysenberry, licks of … Read More
Unison Gimblett Gravels Classic Blend Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2013
Unison Gimblett Gravels Classic Blend Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2013 $40 Eight years on from vintage and this mighty merlot-dominated blend is developing an edge of espresso, cola and soy which cloaks the blueberry and dark plum in the mid-palate. Leather licked and layered with dusty tannins on the finish, this wine is maturing nicely … Read More
Unison Merlin’s Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015
Unison Merlin’s Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015 $38 22 months of careful barrel aging in the first instance, combined with another couple of years of sleepy years in the bottle, this classic Gimblett Gravels merlot is fleshing out in fabulous fashion. Leather layers merge with soft pepper, damson plum and blueberry notes to create a … Read More
Unison Excalibur Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014
Unison Excalibur Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014 $38 I love that the punch of peppery syrah adds an extra flick to the tail of this warm, smooth, fulsome and velvety blend. Seriously aromatic, with dried herbs, carpenters cabin and cocoa characters, seven years on from harvest and just starting to swell and hit … Read More
Wither Hills Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Wither Hills Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $21.99 If plump, plush, earthy-edged, fleshy merlot is your bag, then get set for a tote-ally (geddit) smooth and saucy experience with this super sipper from Wither Hills. Soft caramelised oak gives a hint of smoke and plummy, red berry notes round out the palate. Nicely done. http://www.witherhills.co.nz
Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2018
Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2018 $19.99 Smooth, plum-saturated and crammed with cherry and soft pepper and cocoa characters on the nose and palate, this is a warm, juicy, easy-like-sunday-morning red wine that will wow the crowds. South Australian merlot isn’t something we see a huge amount of here in NZ, which is a shame because … Read More
Hunting Lodge Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019
Hunting Lodge Project X Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019 $36 Well yippee ki yay, if it isn’t the deepest, darkest, inkiest red to hit my stirrups in ages. The Project X is big, bold and muscular in all the right places, supersized into the realms of smoke and vanilla from being aged in … Read More
Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018
Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018 $25 Paired with Vegetable Shepherds Pie in Issue 92 of dish Magazine Take the vegetable love a step further by sipping the certified vegan Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018 ($25) with this pie perfection. Fleshy, ripe and rolling with robust berry and spice flavours, this warming, … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2018
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2018 $24.95 Paul Dawick and Tim Preston are the crack team of talent behind Mills Reef, and merlot is their monster truck when it comes to wines that plough across your tastebuds and leave a deep, palate imprint. Dark, inky, glossy and erupting with exotic 5spice notes, plum, cherry, … Read More