
Whisky, Merlot
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.
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 2020$11.99 Per item
- 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
- 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. ... Learn MoreNorfolk Rise Merlot 2017$12.99 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
- 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 presence ... Learn MoreThorn Clarke 'Sandpiper' Merlot 2018$14.99 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$15.99 Per itemOut of stock
- 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
- Founded in 1570 by the Picoron family, Château Picoron has a long history of wine. Now days, Château Picoron is operated by an Australian family. What we produce is as much a celebration of the history of our winery, ... Learn MoreChateau Petit Picoron Bordeaux 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
- The dry nature of this area produces low-yielding vines where the fruit is highly concentrated in flavour, resulting in vibrant and elegant styles of wines. ... Learn MoreParker Estate Terra Rossa Merlot 2010$39.99 Per item
- Made by consultant winemaker Rick Kinzbrunner, this is an awesome expression of New-World Merlot ... Learn MoreStar Lane Beechworth Merlot 2014$44.99 Per item
- Star Lane Beechworth Merlot 2010$44.99 Per itemOut of stock
- This wine exhibits all the hallmarks of a great Merlot. It has intense varietal fruit characters with an elegant, well structured palate. ... Learn MorePeppertree Reserve Coonawarra Merlot 1998$50.00 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 Revivalist has a powerful bouquet of black cherry, milk chocolate and a touch of bay laurel. Bold flavours of blackberries and barrel toast are enveloped in a lush mouthfeel. Hardly lacking in structure, the wine is incredibly balanced with ... Learn MoreHickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot 2018$72.99 Per item
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Time to try some new delicious whisk(e)ys from outside of its usual homes in Scotland and Ireland! In this tasting, we're going to travel the world with whisk(e)y from Japan to India to the USA ... Learn More
- Brian Croser reports that the “ 1998 vintage was significantly cooler at 1401 degrees Celsius heat summation as against the districts average of 1414 degrees Celsius.” Both the Petaluma Merlot vineyards were drought affected which resulted in a diminished berry size “to the smallest ... Learn MorePetaluma Reserve Coonawarra Merlot 1998$74.99 Per item
- This Pack contains 3 x 60ml bottles of whisky; 1. Rampur PX Sherry Cask (India) 2. Sazerac Rye 6 Year Old (United States of America) 3. Kaiyo Japanese Whisky (Japan) This pack is the perfect way to discover Whisky from outside its usual homes of ... Learn MoreUnited Cellars Whisky Tasters; World Whisky Pack$74.99 Per item
- 100% Merlot matured in French oak for 15 months. ... Learn MoreHickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard 'The Revivalist' Merlot 2016$74.99 Per itemOut of stock
- 100% Merlot matured in French oak for 15 months. ... Learn MoreHickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard 'The Revivalist' Merlot 2015$75.00 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
- This Pack contains 3 x 60ml bottles of whisky; 1. Starward Nova Single Malt (Melbourne) 2. Limeburners Port Cask (Western Australia) 3. Corowa Characters (New South Wales) This pack focusses on the up and coming world of Australian local Whisky. While only a small ... Learn MoreUnited Cellars Whisky Tasters; Australian Pack$79.99 Per item
- The Singleton of Dufftown is often described as possessing an exceptional smoothness. Using a combination of American and European Oak casks at roughly a 50/50 split the Master Distillers have had one passion in mind - to create the best tasting, ... Learn MoreSingleton 12Yo Single Malt$79.99 Per item
- A gift pack containing Glenmorangie ten-year-old single malt and 2 stainless steel whiskey tumblers showing the Glenmorangie insignia. "The original expression of our elegant, floral spirit and the real backbone of the Glenmorangie range" The scent of citrus and ripening peaches ... Learn MoreGlenmorangie Craftman Cup Scotch Whisky (700Ml) Gift Pack$79.99 Per itemOut of stock
- "The original expression of our elegant, floral spirit and the real backbone of the Glenmorangie range" First, vanilla is detected on the tongue before it ripples along the palate bringing a burst of flowery fruitiness. About a minute after tasting, ... Learn MoreGlenmorangie The Original Scotch Whisky (700Ml)$84.99 Per item
- Talisker "Skye" is a new addition to the range as of 2015, named after the beautiful island on which the distillery resides. It follows in the footsteps of an increasing number of distilleries now offering NAS (No Age Statement) bottlings. Matured ... Learn MoreTalisker Skye Single-Malt Whisky$85.99 Per item
- This Pack contains 3 x 60ml bottles of whisky; 1. Glenmorangie 18 Year Old (Highland) 2. Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask (Speyside) 3. Oban 14 Year Old (Highland) This pack is the perfect way to see the nuances of Single Malt Scotch. 3 distinctive styles of Whisky ... Learn MoreUnited Cellars Whisky Tasters; Single Malt Pack$89.99 Per item
- Gold Medal for "Single Malt Scotch Whisky - No Age Statement" - Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016 "Initially sweet with notes of fruit and fresh sea air. In the background you'll find citrus freshness and hints of cereal, and ... Learn MoreWolfburn Northland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700Ml$89.99 Per item
- A beautifully balanced blend of 75% single malt and 25% grain. The ideal start to discovering Japanese whisky. The nose is very fruity with aromas of apricots and dried fruits. There is also a hint of honey. The nose follows onto the ... Learn MoreWhite Oak Tokinoka Blended Japanese Whisky (500Ml)$89.99 Per item
- Ardbeg's flagship expression, revered around the World as the peatiest of all the Islay malts, yet perfectly balanced at the same time. An explosion of crackling peat sets off millions of flavour explosions: peat effervesces with tangy lemon and lime ... Learn MoreArdbeg 10 Years Old Single Malt Whisky$89.99 Per itemOut of stock
- The darkest and most intense whisky in the extra-matured range, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban has spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks, before being transferred into specially selected ruby port pipes from the Quintas or wine estates of Portugal. Dark ... Learn MoreGlenmorangie The Quinta Ruban 12Yo Scotch Whisky$95.00 Per itemOut of stock
- This beautiful sherried whisky is made from spirit laid down in a combination of American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. "On the nose you’ll sense sherry sweetness accompanied by dried fruits and malt. On the palate there’s ... Learn MoreWolfburn Aurora Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700Ml$99.99 Per item
- Matured partly in Scotland and partly in France, bottled without filtration. A blend of malted and un-malted cereals whisky, this spent four years in oak wood. Slight iodine fragrances with a hint of almond, vanilla roundness, floral fineness. A well ... Learn More
- The North British Distillery is Edinburgh’s last remaining working distillery and also one of the few in Scotland that specialises in grain whisky. Much of their output goes into famous blended whisky brands like Johnnie Walker, Famous Grouse, and ... Learn MoreThe Ten Whisky #0 North British Single Grain 700Ml$105.00 Per itemOut of stock
- Clearach is generally the name of a Scottish spirit during its three first years in the cask. Possessing intense and lively characteristics, this whisky spent 3 years in Pedro Ximenez casks. Typical to very young malts with almonds and frangipane (red ... Learn MoreMichel Couvreur Single Malt Clearach 43%$109.00 Per item
- Talisker is the only Single Malt Scotch Whisky made on the Isle of Skye beside the shore of Loch Harport in the jagged shadow of the peaks of The Cuillin. Founded in 1830 by Hugh MacAskill, Talisker distillery remains faithful to ... Learn MoreTalisker 10Yo Single Malt Whisky$109.99 Per item
- World Whisky Awards Category Winner for Best Japanese Blend in 2015 the Nikka Rare Old Super was introduced to the market in 1962. Despite being classified as a blend, it's reported to contain a high proportion of malt from the Yoichi and ... Learn MoreNikka Rare Old Super Blended Whisky 700Ml$110.99 Per item
- Released to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Lagavulin distillery by John Johnston in 1816, this eight-year-old is big and smoky, with sweet spice that becomes apparent with a drop of water. Inspired by the visit of Alfred Barnard ... Learn MoreLagavulin 8Yo Single Malt$119.99 Per item
- 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
- The first new and permanent addition to the Ardbeg core range in almost 10 years. The Mull of Oa in the south west is the most untamed part of Islay. It's a place where storm meets calm. The jutting cliffs which ... Learn MoreArdbeg An Oa Single Malt Whisky$120.00 Per item