m Mérite Wines | Wrattonbully Merlot

Mérite Wines

Forget about Passion,
Merlot’s our Obsession.

MÉRITE

[pronounced mer-eat] (noun)
1. noteworthy 2. something of virtue 3. an advantage


Q MERLOT

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

"The balance here is spot on. Its also noticeably void of any alcohol heat, always worth applauding. It tastes of dark chocolate and fresh blue/blackberries, with gunmetal and peppercorn characters as gentle infusions. I always see an iodine character in these wines, and I see it here too though its subtle at most. Its quite a lovely red wine." Campbell Mattinson - 92 points on The Wine Front here www.winefront.com.au


2016 Q MERLOT $32 PER BOTTLE
Available here

MÉRITE MERLOT

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 wine aims to be the new benchmark for Australian Merlot.

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, NOMAD Sydney, GPO Prime Martin Place, Bistro Guillaume, The Estelle Northcote, Tetsuyas, Catalina Rose Bay, Grossi Florentino Melbourne, Woodland House Melbourne, Bistro Vue Melbourne, French Saloon/Kirks Wine Melbourne, Grosvenor Hotel Wine Store St Kilda, 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


"I recently tasted the excellent 2015 Mérite Merlot from Wrattonbully" January 2019 Tim Atkin MW


"It's a finer, tighter and more composed wine than most. It allows its internal architecture to be seen and felt without the layering or pillowy padding that can turn many merlots flabby. It offers up aromas of plum skin, violets, snapped twigs and roast tomatoes that draw you into a beautifully shaped, elegantly framed wine with a willowy draping of uber-fine tannins. If this is where Australian merlot is going, then I’m very happy to follow." writes Nick Ryan here


$60 per bottle.

MÉRITE MERLOT

2015 Mérite Merlot 6 bottle pack
$360 per 6 pack
Free shipping

Mérite Merlot 12 Pack
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$720 - 12 bottle case of 2015 Mérite Merlot

MÉRITE CABERNET

A classic cellar-worthy Cabernet with the advantage of Australia's best "new clone" Merlot blended in. This wine is a window into a new chapter for Australian Cabernet.


"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.


MÉRITE CABERNET

2015 Mérite Cabernet 6 bottle pack
$360 per 6 pack
Free shipping

Mérite Cabernet 12 Pack
Free shipping

$720 - 12 bottle case of 2015 Mérite Cabernet

MÉRITE MIXED CASES

MÉRITE MIXED CASES

Mérite mixed 6 pack
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$360 - 2 bottles each of the 2015 Mérite Merlot, 2015 Mérite Cabernet and 2016 Mérite Malbec

2015 MÉRITE ULTRA

To create this wine careful selections were made from the best barrels in the hall of each clonal batch of Merlot, and then Cabernet. They were blended with pressed wine from each clonal batch of Merlot that had been kept independently earlier on in the winemaking process. This selection process was based purely on merit and determined that a very limited number of bottles were made. A wine that will reward those committed to carefully cellaring it.

"...this new 2015 Ultra is simply outstanding: intense but refined, with deeply perfumed black fruit and seductive oak flavours wrapped in a tight blanket of glossy, graphite-like tannin. It should cellar beautifully." Max Allen. Read why Max Allen thinks "The wines they're producing with these new clones are at the forefront of a revival of top quality Merlot in Australia" here


"16.5 This bottling, of which only 745 bottles were filled, is heavier on pressings than the regular Merite (2015 Merite Merlot) and is more intense and complex on the nose. Some balsam and lots of herbs and dry on the finish. Really quite sophisticated. Opens out nicely in a peacock’s tail on the finish." www.jancisrobinson.com

$130 per bottle.

2015 Mérite Ultra
Free shipping

$130

ROSE 2 PACK

A pale dry savoury rose with naturally bright acidity made in the classic assignee method. This refreshing rose was made to highlight the flavours that newer clones of Merlot create like cranberry, blood orange, rhubarb and herbs. Best served chilled. With the current proliferation in rose wine styles, what does this one taste like?

"Hailing from a parcel of four merlot clones, all new to these shores, this exuberantly crunchy rose was made in the saignee technique, concentrating the flagship merlot red in the process. Redcurrant, tomato bush and verdant herbs are played along a fiddle of vibrant, natural acidity. A highly sophisticated, mid-weighted rose, attesting to the current revolution across this versatile idiom.” 93 points Ned Goodwin MW on www.winecompanion.com.au


Copper Crimson in colour. It's a crunchy rose with plenty of zip. Strawberry and spice, cranberry and orange oil. So fresh and energetic it feels snappy, in a good way. It clicks its fingers at you. It's very good. 91 points Campbell Mattinson www.winefront.com.au

Rose 2 Pack
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$44 SOLD OUT

MÉRITE SHIRAZ MALBEC AND MALBEC

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 intense 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.

2016 Shiraz Malbec

$32

Silver medal award winner 2018 Limestone Coast Wine Show

93 points Drink til 2026 Ned Goodwin MW Wine Companion


2016 Mérite Malbec

$60


"Mérite is doing great things with merlot, though this Malbec too was a standout in a recent tasting.” “The gist of this wine is blackcurrant, dark plum, choc-mint, and clove spice. It sits at just over medium-bodied with plushness to texture and a lift of breathy sweet fruit following on from soft tannins. Really easy to like, it delivers good concentration, a strong sense of the generosity of Malbec and inherent balance. Lovely drinking." Mike Bennie - Best Buy Wines to Cellar in Gourmet Traveller Wine magazinehere


Thoroughly charming. Watch this space I’d say.” Gary Walsh 93 points. www.winefront.com.au


Fine domestic Malbec of boysenberry, violet and minty scents, sophisticated in its swathe of moreish, middle-weight tannins and the integration of oak, again, a United Nations of origins (30 percent new). Vanilla, cedar and bitter chocolate find a welcome companion in Malbec’s generous girth.

The tannins are this estate’s calling card: finely tuned and on just the right side of grit.

94 points - Drink til 2028 Ned Goodwin MW Wine Companion


MIXED 6 PACK

Free shipping

$260 - 3 bottles 2016 Shiraz Malbec and 3 bottle 2016 Malbec

If you have challenges purchasing our wines with your credit card through the paypal system, please contact Colleen to arrange your purchase via an alternate payment. Your purchase will appear Broken Feather Pty Ltd T/as Ruckus and Mérite Wines as the merchant on your credit card statement. Email wine@meritewines.com

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