£30.95 per bottle

ABV 14.5%

Region
Located just 30 minutes drive south east of Adelaide and parallel to the coast, these rolling hillside vineyards produce some of Australia`s finest Shiraz and Grenache based red wines. Some of the areas historic old wineries were established in the late 1800s and many remain today. With a strong regional identity on the international stage, the wines have a distinctive style and subtlely achieved from a combination of very warm summers, mild winters and cooling sea breezes. Many of Australia`s most famous and expensive wines have their vineyard origins within this region.

 

Producer
Geoff Merrill was born in 1953 and was raised on a sheep station in the far north of South Australia until he was 11 years old. The Merrill family then moved to the Barossa Valley, just north of Adelaide, where Geoff`s first links with the wine industry were formed. Following his `apprenticeship` at Chateau Reynella, in 1985 he purchased the historic Mount Hurtle winery. Reknowned for his handle-bar moustache and friendship with many of crickets elite, his talents were recently rewarded when he received the legendary Jimmy Watson Trophy, probably Australia`s most prestigious wine award.

Tasting Notes
The limited reserve range of wines from the Merrill stable are the result of Geoff`s desire to make and release small batches of his finest wines. Top Aussie wine writer James Halliday recently rated Geoff as one of Australias finest winemakers who is right at the top of his game! This wine recently won the great Australian Shiraz Challenge scoring 96/100. Full of spice and intense, medium bodied in style with concentrated black fruit flavours with bitter chocolate, a hint of menthol and a delightful integrated toasty finish. This is an example of Australian Shiraz at it`s finest.

Food
Kangaroo steak, strong flavoured game and steak tartare.

Media
James Halliday 90 points April 2017.