Mérite Wines

Now Australia has better clones of Merlot. This is made from just one of them: Q45

What does this "new clone" Merlot taste like? $32 per bottle.

Reviews of 2015 RUCKUS Q Merlot

Campbell Mattinson writes "It smells fresh and vibrant and tastes it too. Its structural and sinewy as well; a good combination. It tastes of boysenberry, brair bush and black cherry with creamy gum leaf characters wafting through the finish. It has a textural softness but its juicy, and pulls just enough on the strings to tannin to give it a good firm feel. You'd bet on this maturing well over the medium term, if not longer. 91 points." www.winefront.com.au

"...this has remarkable focus and purity, gossamer tannins threaded through the predominantly red fruits of the mid-palate, thence to the gently earthy/savoury flavours and mouthfeel on the finish. It's only medium-bodied at best, but has great balance and precise use of new oak. As the vines mature, even greater things lie in store." 95 points Special Value wine - Drink by 2030. Read James Halliday's full review here

Reviews of the 2016 Q MERLOT

92 points on The Wine Front here

While almost all Australian Merlot in the bottle is from one clone, this wine, our flagship wine, is made from French clones that are new to Australia, on a superior site that produces fruit a grade or two above what is normally expected of Australian Merlot. This is the wine that created all the Ruckus.

This is a pure Merlot: 100 percent Merlot. Each vintage clonal batches will be vinified independently until blending. The batches that make the final blend will be the ultimate reflection of the site and vintage. The blending together of these new clones, each showing distinct characteristics, creates a complex, assertive, yet delicate Merlot without needing another variety blended in.

Available at Bennelong in the Sydney Opera House, sixpenny in Sydney, Fix Wine Bar Sydney, Quay Sydney, Café Sydney, Grossi Florentino Melbourne, Woodland House Melbourne, Bistro Vue Melbourne, French Saloon/Kirks Wine Melbourne, Brae, The Source at MONA Tasmania, Landscape Hobart, Bibo Wine Bar Double Bay, ARIA Brisbane and 2KW Adelaide. Found on social media with the hashtag #MERITEMERLOT

To read reviews and the history of this wine, and to understand why these new clones make all the difference, including why UK wine writer Sarah Ahmed found it to be "a cut above any Australian Merlot I've tasted and a good many from elsewhere too" and how Philip White loved "watching it prove you can achieve all this without the normal ocker gooey jammy flavour-stifling alcohol", please click here

Read Jane Anson's article discussing our work with French clones of Merlot that are new to Australia in Decanter magazine here

Reviews of 2015 MÉRITE Merlot

Another Special Value wine! Read James Halliday's 96 point review - Drink by 2035 here

"Bright, juicy, fruit-filled and savoury at once. It s all laced together with ultra-fine tannin too. We are in pretty classy terrain here. Shaved pencils, black cherries, boysenberries, redcurrant. None of the dreaded mulberry. Flings of earth. It s super succulent and beautifully balanced. It almost feels like it s been painted in watercolours too, almost always a good sign, though there s just a bit more oomph than those words commonly imply. That said, it s a steadfastly medium-bodied wine, with no pretensions for anything more. Just look at the tannin structure of this wine. 94 points" Campbell Mattinson www.winefront.com.au

"Densely scented bouquet with aromas of sweet plum and new oak, violet and clove, wild red berries and liquorice root; as it the opens up in glass the concentration and complexity builds whilst holding onto its very youthful quiver. On the palate – an obvious yet not overdone ripeness and concentration with flavours that reflect the nose centering on plums, some blue fruits and floral moments. The oak is obvious with its youthful attack, but will integrate over time; medium+ (ish) tannins and acidity, well made and drinking well now. Best from 2019 through 2030+. 94 Points" - Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier www.camdouglasms.com

“If this is where Australian Merlot is going then I am very happy to follow” writes Nick Ryan.

Nick Ryan discusses the technical challenges faced by Australian Merlot and ‘vinuous Spakfilla’ in The Australian newspaper here

$60 per bottle.

From a truly special parcel of mature balanced Cabernet Sauvignon - this parcel is a proven performer. We blended a small amount of our best Merlot to give a classic Cabernet that something extra. Our cool climate maritime region that is influenced by the Bonney Upwhelling phenomenon provides cooling nighttime temperatures. Iron-rich Terra Rossa soils over a limestone base, typical of what is found scattered across our cavelands district, create an intense vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon with naturally bright acidity and fine tannins. This is a keeper for the cellar!

"A classy wine in every way" Special Value Wine James Halliday 96 points - Drink by 2035

Campbell Mattinson writes its "A treat for Cabernet lovers. 95 points." on www.winefront.com.au

94 points in blind Panel Tasting for Limestone Coast Leading Reds in GTWine magazine. “The palate is elegant with succulent berry fruit and fine tannin.” says Toni Paterson MW and “The wine is quite youthful and I found an interplay between blackberry, black currant and garden herbs. There’s an excellent concentration and fine, pleasantly dry tannins to finish” writes Nick Bullied MW. Read more here

$60 per bottle.

This new wine is available at Natural History Bar and Grille Melbourne and Landscape Hobart

Almost fifteen years ago, vignerons Colleen and Mike spent four months in Argentina to taste and learn everything they could about growing and making Argentine Malbec. Later, when Argentine clones of Malbec became available in Australia they seized the opportunity to plant an experimental parcel of four clones on their site in 2008 - seeing synergies between their cool climate site and some of the high altitude estates around Mendoza.

Argentine clones can produce smaller berries, creating wine that is more instense in colour and flavours. On our site, our soils and climate coax these newer clones to create Malbec that is inky, with intense fruitiness and aromatic qualities, and the excellent natural acidity and fine tannins that will reward cellaring. Available here in a mixed pack along with our cool-climate Shiraz Malbec.

We're really excited to be able to share an inky, vibrant, delicious Australian cool climate expression of Argentine Malbec with you.