Geoff Merrill Shiraz Reserve 2015 (750ml)

Country/Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

Winemaking: The team select their suitable barrels from McLaren Vale for this wine, then blend them together in a mix of new and used American and French oak for a further stint of maturation. Overall, the wine sees 29 months in oak, but the quality fruit has swallowed that. An opaque maroon, this is a compelling McLaren Vale Shiraz. Some development, as is to be expected from a wine now eight years old, but it is still fresh and richly flavoured and undoubtedly has a long future ahead of it.

Grapes: Shiraz

Tasting note: Highly aromatic nose full of spice, berry fruit, violets and hints of vanilla bean. On further inspection, savoury meats, herbs, leather and fresh cashew notes follow. On the palate, rich dark red berry fruits with firm tannin moving in indication the potential longevity of this wine. The flavour and mouthfeel rolls from beginning to end finishing with clean acidity, ready for the next piece of steak.