RRP $65 | 96 Points - Ken Gargett
Based in South Australia’s renowned McLaren Vale, Geoff Merrill is famous for crafting elegant, balanced, and food-friendly varietals that showcase the regional character over excessive intervention. A standout expression of this philosophy, the 2016 Geoff Merrill Reserve Shiraz is product of low-yielding yet high quality vintage, that delivered highly concentrated and balanced fruit.
An epic McLaren Vale Shiraz built for the long-term, the 2016 Geoff Merrill Reserve Shiraz underwent an extensive 29-month maturation in a combination of new French and American oak. Opening with aromas of savoury meats, herbs and spices, followed by dark plum, mulberry and coffee notes. The palate is still relatively youthful with plenty of fine, grippy tannin and acidity. Flavours of raspberry, dark plum, blueberry and roasted coffee which are integrating beautifully with some toasty oak and silky tannin. A stunning aged McLaren Vale Shiraz that's just entering its peak drinking window, this should continue to drink superbly over the next decade or two.
"96 Points. Here is Merrill at his best. This was a small vintage after a dry winter, but the resulting fruit concentration has contributed to wines of deep intensity. Love this wine with its bag of riches on display first with bright plummy mulberry fruits on the nose and then on the rich and textured palate with its dark chocolate, toasted coffee and savoury meatiness. It has had some oak. Plenty. In fact, 29 months in new and seasoned French and American hogsheads and puncheons. But over oaked - no way. Merrill is a master of using oak over long periods and this is a masterful wine. Drink by: 2024-2036"- Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot, July 2024.
"96 Points. From a stunning vintage, this is really good value. Compare it to other prestige reds, especially those with considerable time in the cellar already, and this seems like a steal. In the end, all that matters is whether or not it is a good wine. And it is extremely good. The wine spent 29 months in a mix of American and French oak barrels, all new. Deep maroon, even with eight years ageing, the wine is still poised and taut, and still needs time. The nose exhibits notes of dry herbs, mocha, coffee beans and cocoa powder all supported by black fruits, plums, mulberries and cigar boxes. There are silky tannins, immaculate balance plus extreme length and it carries all before it. This still has a twenty year future. $65. Drink by: 2024-2044"- Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot, August 2024.
