Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most famous and widely planted red grape varieties in the world. It is immensely popular in Australia, where world-class wines are made in Coonawarra, Margaret River and the Yarra Valley. Each region has a distinctive character, but all tend to be more fruit-forward than those from France. Coonawarra has a distinct mint or Eucalypt aroma, Margaret River has a more tomato leaf character, while Yarra Valley is more elegant in style.
Its original home is Bordeaux, where it is the dominant grape on the left bank, Medoc and Graves. In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and with small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot. In the New World, it is both blended and made as a straight varietal. Excellent wines are also produced in the Napa Valley and Chile's Maipo Valley. The grapes are thick-skinned providing the characteristic high tannins and deep colour. The Cabernet Sauvignon wines tend to show fragrant cassis, herbaceous, full-bodied with high acid.
Merlot in Australia is not a variety you will often see unblended, until recently. It is most often used to add suppleness and mid-palate to Cabernet’s stern, serious structure. In Australia, Merlot is now achieving considerable recognition as a varietal wine. Merlot blended wines are available from the warmer inland regions, such as Riverina, Riverland and Murray Darling. Single varietal Merlot from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale produces a softer dry plummy wine. Whereas the cooler climates such as the Yarra Valley and Margaret River tends to take on more savoury characters with firmer tannins.
It is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux, France where planting has rapidly expanded throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils, is relatively simple to cultivate and is a naturally high yielding. In St Emilion and Pomerol, it withstands the moist clay-rich soils far better than Cabernet, producing opulently rich, plummy wines. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of some of the best (and most expensive) Merlot based wines.
Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in New Zealand, California, Chile and Northern Italy. New Zealand's Hawkes Bay is producing outstanding Merlot-based blends, especially from the Gimblett Gravels.
Its original home is Bordeaux, where it is the dominant grape on the left bank, Medoc and Graves. In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and with small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot. In the New World, it is both blended and made as a straight varietal. Excellent wines are also produced in the Napa Valley and Chile's Maipo Valley. The grapes are thick-skinned providing the characteristic high tannins and deep colour. The Cabernet Sauvignon wines tend to show fragrant cassis, herbaceous, full-bodied with high acid.
Merlot in Australia is not a variety you will often see unblended, until recently. It is most often used to add suppleness and mid-palate to Cabernet’s stern, serious structure. In Australia, Merlot is now achieving considerable recognition as a varietal wine. Merlot blended wines are available from the warmer inland regions, such as Riverina, Riverland and Murray Darling. Single varietal Merlot from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale produces a softer dry plummy wine. Whereas the cooler climates such as the Yarra Valley and Margaret River tends to take on more savoury characters with firmer tannins.
It is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux, France where planting has rapidly expanded throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils, is relatively simple to cultivate and is a naturally high yielding. In St Emilion and Pomerol, it withstands the moist clay-rich soils far better than Cabernet, producing opulently rich, plummy wines. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of some of the best (and most expensive) Merlot based wines.
Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in New Zealand, California, Chile and Northern Italy. New Zealand's Hawkes Bay is producing outstanding Merlot-based blends, especially from the Gimblett Gravels.
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As with all Zilzie wines, this represents outstanding value and superb quality for the price. Perfect every day wine from one of the oldest wine producing families in Australia. ... Learn MoreZILZIE 'SELECTION 23' MERLOT 2019$11.99 Per itemOut of stock -
As with all Zilzie wines, this represents outstanding value and superb quality for the price. Perfect every day wine from one of the oldest wine producing families in Australia. ... Learn MoreZILZIE 'SELECTION 23' MERLOT 2018$11.99 Per item -
Lifted red berries, mint, stone fruits and sweet cherries. The palate features plum, spice and forest fruit flavours balanced by chocolate and vanilla oak notes, finishing with good length and soft fine tannins. Outstanding value! "This shows a lot of “ ... Learn MoreNORFOLK RISE MERLOT 2016$12.99 Per itemOut of stock -
The Elephant in the Room wines are proudly large in scale and expansive in flavour. Ignoring fashion and braving the scorn of “wine thought police”, Elephant in the Room was created to give consumers exactly what they want – full bodied ... Learn MoreELEPHANT IN THE ROOM CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018$13.99 Per itemOut of stock -
A lifted and expressive nose of red berries, blackcurrants and distinct varietal tobacco leaf and forest floor. The palate is fruit-driven and vibrant with an open and approachable core of supple berried fruits, plums and cassis building to a ripe ... Learn MoreELEPHANT IN THE ROOM CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017$13.99 Per itemOut of stock -
WINNER- Gold Medal, Limestone Coast Wine show. The Zilzie Regional Collection showcases textbook examples of varietal & regional expressions whilst being excellent value for money. Coonawarra is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and this wine is a wonderful expression of the ... Learn MoreZILZIE 'COONAWARRA' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018$14.99 Per item -
12 months in tight grain French and American oak. The nose has primarily lifted strawberry and plum fruit characters. Medium bodied with an abundance of the primary characters carried through from the nose of plum and strawberry there is also a ... Learn MoreTHORN CLARKE 'SANDPIPER' MERLOT 2017$14.99 Per item -
The Zilzie Regional Collection showcases textbook examples of varietal & regional expressions whilst being excellent value for money. Coonawarra is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and this wine is a wonderful expression of the style. A rich nose of blackcurrants, plums ... Learn MoreZILZIE 'COONAWARRA' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017$14.99 Per itemOut of stock -
The United Cellars 'Varietal' Range brings you the most popular varieties, made by some of the best and most-respected winemakers for an unbeatable price. Designed for immediate enjoyment, the Varietal Range promises to provide a quality wine to suit every ... Learn MoreUNITED CELLARS CABERNET BY BRUCE TYRRELL 2018$17.00 Per item -
The Climbing Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from grapes harvested from the estate’s best Cabernet blocks in the Orange region. A lifted perfumed aroma of small red berries. The palate is savoury with cool leafy characters, subtle French oak and ... Learn MoreCLIMBING CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016$17.00 Per item -
Giesen's Estate Merlot is a wine that's very approachable in youth and suitable for any occasion. The fruit is sourced from a premium Gisborne vineyard, producing a Merlot with good fruit intensity and a touch of complexity through restrained use ... Learn MoreGIESEN MERLOT 2018$18.99 Per item -
WINNER; James Halliday's Wine Companion 2020 WINERY OF THE YEAR! A wonderful Cabernet made exclusively for United Cellars by 3rd generation wine maker, Tom Barry. Blackcurrant and dried herbs on the nose with hints of smoke. Juicy cassis, raspberry and blackberry ... Learn More -
The high altitude, age and aspect of Orange and in particular the Koomooloo vineyard has ideal conditions for producing a Pinot Noir of great complexity. The Conductor wears a medium colour with a bright red hue and smells of rich ... Learn MorePHILIP SHAW 'THE CONDUCTOR' MERLOT 2016$22.00 Per itemOut of stock -
Gold Medal – 2020 Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal – 2019 Australian Small Winemakers Show Gold Medal – 2020 China Wine & Spirits Awards Best Value Gold Medal – 2020 Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards Gold Medal (94 points / 5 stars) – Wine Showcase Gold Medal – 2019 Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge ... Learn More -
This Cabernet Sauvignon is from our most mature vineyards in Mt Barker with only the best parcels of fruit being selected for the ‘Book Ends’. This is classic cool climate Cabernet with it’s deep colour, rich plum fruit aromas ... Learn MoreWEST CAPE HOWE 'BOOK ENDS' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016$28.00 Per item -
Yarra Valley Cabernet does very well under the watch of Punt Road's Tim Shand. The nose displays aromas of ripe berry-fruits and anise, with dark chocolate notes and hints of French oak. The palate is juicy with savoury varietal flavours ... Learn MorePUNT ROAD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017$31.99 Per item -
Maturation for 13 months in 50% French (10% new) and 50% older American oak barriques has added complexity and suppleness. A complex array of ripe fruit and oak. Vibrant dark berry fruits and hints of blackcurrant combined with subtle notes of dark chocolate and ... Learn MoreKATNOOK ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016$34.99 Per item -
Lavishly flavoured yet supple, this powerhouse rendition should appeal to many a Merlot devotee. A complex array of ripe fruit and oak on the nose. Plum, coffee and cedar combined with subtle notes of dark chocolate and cedar. Complex layers ... Learn MoreKATNOOK ESTATE MERLOT 2016$34.99 Per itemOut of stock -
Notes from winemaker Jo Perry, winner of the 2016 Young Gun Winemaker of the Year; 100% good old Cabernet Sauvignon from our little dry grown organic block in Yallingup. Hand-picked, foot stomped, wild fermented in opens & post maceration for a three months. ... Learn MoreDORMILONA ORGANIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018$36.99 Per itemOut of stock -
Year-in and year-out this is wine is a cellar staple, and consistently over-performs for the price. For some extra value, each bottle comes with a gift box, vacuum pump and bottle stopper! Wild berries, black olive and rhubarb notes. Fragrant ... Learn MoreWYNNS BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012$39.99 Per itemOut of stock -
Sourced from a single vineyard located at Sweetwater Ridge in the northern Belford end of the Lower Hunter Valley. Since 1844 the soils of Sweetwater Hermitage have been the foundation for some of the oldest known vineyards in the Hunter Valley. ... Learn MoreSWEETWATER HUNTER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008$50.00 Per item -
Nose: A classic Cabernet combination of blueberries, violets, blackberries with tar and cedar notes. The musky, black fruit note also suggests the higher percentage of Petit Verdot this year. There’s also pencil shavings and pomegranate and a very light ... Learn MoreMOSS WOOD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 (375ML)$61.99 Per item -
It smells comforting at first, but as the drinker delves, the bouquet unveils mossy, damp forest earth, and then fresher, leafy greens emerge with their tannins. Medium bodied, strawberry and plum, savoury, grainy graphite tannin, cool acidity, tomato paste flavour ... Learn More -
The Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon is without a doubt one of the finest wines in the in distinguished Hickinbotham range. The pretty topnote aromas of bergamot and blueberry cover the first impressions of flavour. Step two is the strapping acid-and-tannin realisation; ... Learn More -
100% Merlot matured in French oak for 15 months. ... Learn MoreHICKINBOTHAM CLARENDON VINEYARD 'THE REVIVALIST' MERLOT 2016$74.99 Per itemOut of stock -
A Grand Cru Classe of Saint-Emilion, Chateau Franc Mayne enjoys an exceptional location in the prestigious appellation. Owned by the Savare family since 2018, Chateau Franc Mayne is enjoying a great momentum of renewal. The property is beautifully represented by the ... Learn MoreCHATEAU FRANC MAYNE 2019 (EN PRIMEUR - DELIVERY 2022)$79.00 Per itemOut of stock -
"Stonestreet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a pure reflection of our high-elevation vineyard estate, showcasing the wide variety of facings, soils and flora found on its primary ridge." Vibrant aromas of brambly blackberry, black currant, smoky tobacco leaf, and sage dominate, ... Learn MoreSTONESTREET ESTATE CABERNET 2016$79.00 Per item -
"Stonestreet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a pure reflection of our high-elevation vineyard estate, showcasing the wide variety of facings, soils and flora found on its primary ridge." Vibrant aromas of brambly blackberry, black currant, smoky tobacco leaf, and sage dominate, ... Learn MoreSTONESTREET ESTATE CABERNET 2015$79.00 Per itemOut of stock -
"Stonestreet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a pure reflection of our high-elevation vineyard estate, showcasing the wide variety of facings, soils and flora found on its primary ridge." Vibrant aromas of brambly blackberry, black currant, smoky tobacco leaf, and sage dominate, ... Learn MoreSTONESTREET ESTATE SONOMA VALLEY CABERNET 2016$79.99 Per item -
"Stonestreet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a pure reflection of our high-elevation vineyard estate, showcasing the wide variety of facings, soils and flora found on its primary ridge." Vibrant aromas of brambly blackberry, black currant, smoky tobacco leaf, and sage dominate, ... Learn MoreSTONESTREET ESTATE CABERNET 2013$99.99 Per item -
This wine will repay serious cellaring and develop to full bottle bouquet at around 20 to 25 years of age. After that, it will continue to provide enjoyable drinking until at least 40 years of age. ... Learn MoreMOSS WOOD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016$119.99 Per itemOut of stock -
Vinification: Picking date determined by berry sensory analysis. Hand-picked and sorted by clonal batches. Fully-destemmed then lightly crushed, fermentation in small stainless-steel vats by clonal batches at 23c with remontage twice-daily for 7 days. Racked into barrels to complete fermentation then ... Learn MoreMERITE ULTRA MERLOT 2015$120.00 Per itemOut of stock -
Nose: A classic Cabernet combination of blueberries, violets, blackberries with tar and cedar notes. The musky, black fruit note also suggests the higher percentage of Petit Verdot this year. There’s also pencil shavings and pomegranate and a very light ... Learn MoreMOSS WOOD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017$124.99 Per item -
Wine of the Year - Red Wine of the Year - Cabernet of the Year 99 points Ray Jordan Rating 95 by Joe Czerwinski (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate) The colour is bright crimson, deep rose red. The nose is very expressive with ... Learn MoreWOODLANDS 'CLEMENTINE ELOISE' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016$129.99 Per item -
From one of the most highly revered Cabernet vineyards in Australia producing world class wines. This wine shows incredible tension and finesse of tannin. 2014 has produced some of the most profound Cabernets from Margaret River that we've ever seen. 96% Cabernet ... Learn MoreWOODLANDS 'MATTHEW' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014$129.99 Per itemOut of stock -
First made in 1982, the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon was conceived as a flagship wine for Wynns. John Riddoch himself was a true visionary. Amongst his many achievements are the building of the Wynns Gabled winery and the establishment of the ... Learn MoreWYNNS JOHN RIDDOCH CABERNET 2016$139.99 Per item -
This pack contains a bottle of 4 different wines (2 half bottles and 2 full bottles) to be opened during an online tasting held on the 2nd of July 2020. During the COVID-19 lockdown, we will be running a series of online, interactive ... Learn More
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The palate is structured and masculine, exerting a firm grip in the mouth, spicier than its peers with cracked black pepper complementing the black fruit, tobacco and smoke towards the structured finish. There is great length here, very persistent in ... Learn MoreARNOT-ROBERTS 'CLAJEUX VINEYARD' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013$189.99 Per itemOut of stock -
**THIS ONLINE TASTING IS OVER, BUT PACK STILL AVAILABLE**
This pack contains a bottle of 4 different wines to be opened during an online tasting held on Thursday the 7th of May 2020. During the COVID-19 lockdown, ... Learn More
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Takes inspiration from the lauded reds France's Pauillac. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. On the nose sweet red and black fruits abound; red and black plum, ripe redcurrant and tart black cherry. Balancing the fruit are ... Learn MoreVERITE 'LA JOIE' CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011$475.00 Per item
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