The Auswine Forum

A guy at work who likes merlot has just won a promotion. Someone else there who has absolutely no wine knowledge wants to buy a congratulatory bottle of merlot for him. Knowing that I like wine, I was asked to recommend one costing $30-$40. Well, I simply don't bother with merlot as I get plenty of enjoyment from shiraz, cab and blends of them and can't even remember when I last had a merlot.

Your recommendations would be appreciated so I can pass them on.

IF (and I mean IF) you can find any the 2001 Petaluma Merlot, around the $40 - $45 price range though! (Winestar have some!) 96 points from Oliver. An excellent Merlot!

Good to see there is someone here more lazy than me

try the search function

or

try this link to a recent similar thread

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.p ... ght=merlot

Not a big Merlot man myself but had a McWilliams Barwang Merlot 2001 recently that was most enjoyable, quite varietal ( only costs 20 odd dollars ). Katnook Merlot has been solid in the past but 1998 was the last I tried so not sure about current vintages.

Just buy him a cracker Shiraz and once he drinks it I bet he will never look back. Help him to see the light, perhaps it is your destiny

Just buy him a cracker Shiraz and once he drinks it I bet he will never look back. Help him to see the light, perhaps it is your destiny

spoken like a true common aussie 'my cellar is 99% aussie red' wine fiend

try some kiwi merlot if you can get hold of it. villa maria reserve maybe? can you get that over there??

jester wrote:Not a big Merlot man myself but had a McWilliams Barwang Merlot 2001 recently that was most enjoyable, quite varietal ( only costs 20 odd dollars ). Katnook Merlot has been solid in the past but 1998 was the last I tried so not sure about current vintages.

Just buy him a cracker Shiraz and once he drinks it I bet he will never look back. Help him to see the light, perhaps it is your destiny

Thanks Jester, I'm not a merlot bloke either but might check out the Barwang. At present I've a bottle of Tatachilla Clarendon 2000 put aside(phoned 'em to check the vintage in stock) at my local outlet but wonder if anyone's tried this vintage. Yeah, I know 2000 Barossa and McLarenvale vintages have a poor reputation but don't think the recipient of the gift is a full-on vinophile.

Don't recall seeing any better Kiwi merlots listed on the outlet's website, unfortunately.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Any others?

daz

I'm not a great fan of most Aussie merlot but for readily available stuff, Picardy Merlot Cab Sav Cab Franc is a little gem (currently 2004 I think). I know its a blend but its mostly (~65%) merlot and damned yummy!

Cheers

Dave

Why don't you try looking for some French Merlot?

Come on guys, read between the lines.

I bet the guy likes merlot because he really knows f all about wine and drinks it just because it is soft and fruity.

Buy him a cask Daz and be done with it

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Just buy him a cracker Shiraz and once he drinks it I bet he will never look back. Help him to see the light, perhaps it is your destiny

spoken like a true common aussie 'my cellar is 99% aussie red' wine fiend

try some kiwi merlot if you can get hold of it. villa maria reserve maybe? can you get that over there??

Thanks for the link Craig. Searching the forum, well, for me, often provides more results than I want and lots of scrolling. Had one result from the link, a post of Brian's (RB) that I'll follow up - Brookland Valley. The local barn MAY have some but need to check out which vintage. If it's 2001, it's the winner! Tatachilla Clarendon 2000's in stock but may have passed it's peak. If the BV's in stock and 2000, I guess it's toss a coin time. 99 & 01 from MR have good reps. Had a bottle of Cullen cab merl 2000 at new year that was very nice but had at least a couple of years to peak.

Montana Reserve? Don't think so! One of the few Kiwi merls on the local's website.

Thanks again

daz

Davo wrote:Come on guys, read between the lines.

I bet the guy likes merlot because he really knows f all about wine and drinks it just because it is soft and fruity.

Buy him a cask Daz and be done with it

Actually this might well be worth verifying. However I am a believer in trying to convince people who drink cheap crappy wine that the better stuff is worth persuing. If it transpires he normally likes Merlot in a cask, then getting something highly structured (or French), might not be the best move.

What about NZ merlot?

regards

Ian

coldstreams hills merlot always a favourite of mine, way better than some of the more expensive stuff and will cellar well
Barwang merlot is also good stuff drinking well now
of course Petaluma merlot is still the best from what i have tasted

Cheers
Simmo

Ian S wrote:

Davo wrote:Come on guys, read between the lines.

I bet the guy likes merlot because he really knows f all about wine and drinks it just because it is soft and fruity.

Buy him a cask Daz and be done with it

Actually this might well be worth verifying. However I am a believer in trying to convince people who drink cheap crappy wine that the better stuff is worth persuing. If it transpires he normally likes Merlot in a cask, then getting something highly structured (or French), might not be the best move.

What about NZ merlot?

regards

Ian

What about NZ merlot indeed. Had my first one last night, blend actually, at a Craggy Range Dinner. The Gimblett Gravels Sophia (usually about 60+% Merlot) wine of the night for me, pity they want $50+USD for it.

Mike

montana reserve merlot is strictly average!

Craig(NZ) wrote:montana reserve merlot is strictly average!

I think she must've gone with a recommendation of one of the staff at the barn. Stopped in on the way home and there was a bottle of Heggies Eden Valley Merlot 2000(I think, maybe 2002) on one of the checkout counters with her name on a card under it. Got it priced - $25.99, maybe $26.99.

Regarding Montana, I generally steer clear of their wines because the few I tried several years ago were rather ordinary.

Thanks again to all for the help, unfortunately to no avail.

daz

Yes, definitely!!! New Zealand merlot has to be considered!!! Fruity, soft.... really sophisticated.

We have a few of the 2004 Picardy Merlot Cab Sav Cab Franc that Dave mentioned earlier. Our first bottle tasted like a bush fire ie like eucalyptus smoke.... wasn't there a big fire around there back then, or am I missing something about this blend?

Cheers,

Dave.

dkw wrote:We have a few of the 2004 Picardy Merlot Cab Sav Cab Franc that Dave mentioned earlier. Our first bottle tasted like a bush fire ie like eucalyptus smoke.... wasn't there a big fire around there back then, or am I missing something about this blend?

Cheers,

Dave.

I have noticed summat like this in the shiraz from Picardy that year but not so much in the Merlot Cabs. I remember a while back news about a controlled burn gone wrong in the area which had the local winegrowers up in arms, but can't remember the year off the top of my head.

Cheers

Dave