McPherson Family Vineyards The Angus Merlot 2017 $22.99 Great merlot from Australia is something that I don’t get to experience very often (and that’s no fault of anyone- it’s just that I don’t actually ‘see’ them) This merlot from Mcpherson is some next level lovely. Scented with saddle leather and a smorgasbord of spices and … Read More
merlot
Saint Clair Origin Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017
Saint Clair Origin Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 $22 Kick off your shoes, put your MC Hammer pants on and do a happy dance. This juicy, Gimblett Gravels-grown merlot is seriously floral on the nose and resplendent (now that’s a word) with raspberry, liquorice, spiced plum, and chocolate layers’ that lead to a long, fresh finish. … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2017
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2017 $24 Bold, juicy and ready for action, this velvety-smooth red has cocoa, dark cherry, plum and peppery warmth on the palate. It’s fleshy, beautifully textured and fabulous with moussaka. www.millsreef.co.nz
Parcelle Merlot 2011
Parcelle Merlot 2011 $25 Between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers lies Bordeaux’s Entre-Deux-Mers region. The ancient Romans began crafting wine there over 2000 years ago – so it’s fair to say there’s much skill and experience at play in this part of the wine world. The vines here are trained low to absorb the heat … Read More
San Pedro Gato Negro Valle Central Merlot 2016 $16.99
Very floral and leafy, bay and thyme on the nose alongside pepper and smoky, molasses and liquorice-like characters on the nose and palate. Warming and good as a winter crowd pleaser. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Sacred Hill Helmsman Cabernet Merlot Franc 2015 $80 (5 stars)
My first taste of this wine was a few years before the millennium and back then I was told the name represented something that led the way that stood ahead of the pack and steered you in the right direction. This new vintage lives up to its reputation for focus and drive. A Helmsman is … Read More
Matawhero Gisborne Merlot 2016 $22 ★★★★
For a red that’s only just been bottled and released, this is drinking darn gorgeously. Ripe, round, plush plum and milk chocolate notes on the nose and palate, it’s dangerously smooth and velvety in the mouth and boasts a long, warming finish. Subtle fruitcake spices, pepper and hints of red berry add to the fruit … Read More
Karikari Esate Calypso Northland Merlot 2014 $27 (3.5stars)
If you were looking for New Zealand’s northernmost vineyard then you’ve come to the right place. The heat bakes those vines and the breezes which gust in from the coast directly below the peninsula keep the bunches dry and clean. Winemaker Alan Collinson uses wild, natural yeasts to ferment the juice, which adds to the … Read More
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2014 $33 ★★★★½ Cleverly crafted by winemakers Matt Thomson and Hamish Clark (who has a background in microbiology, zoology and forensic science interestingly enough) from fruit grown in the Gimblett Gravels, this is a wine with deeply earthy aromas of chocolate, liquorice and cured meats. Those same characters … Read More
The Family Gisborne Merlot 2013
The Family Gisborne Merlot 2013 $25 ★★★★ Pioneer winemaker John Thorpe and his family are really making a name for themselves with this family brand and lovers of soft, plummy and plush merlot will fall all over themselves when they taste this wine. Bright berries, cherries chocolatey spices and a long, silky finish make this … Read More