Merlot was a late arrival to Australia and plantings were activated by a sudden rise in popularity in the U.S. in the 1980s. So sudden was the demand for Merlot in Australia that Orlando imported bulk Merlot from Italy for a few vintages until the vines were productive. Merlot is now widespread across Australian regions though the initial popular surge has died. Thus, we find high quality parcels of Merlot from premium regions are offered to us at lower prices than low quality Shiraz.
High quality and low prices are the sum we like, hence this remarkable wine from McLaren Vale, a district with a climate well suited to this variety. Merlot has been made famous by the wines of Bordeaux , France from the district of Pomerol so Merlot has been planted in seaside locations that perhaps mimic this French district. The wines are said to be rounder and softer that those of Cabernet though this is hard to see. If you enjoy Cabernet which is the most famous variety of McLaren Vale then this wine will have appeal. We favour full flavoured wines and a useful measure of this is the alcohol at 15.1%. Sweet and rich is our way.
