The Wine Blokes

Region: Eden Valley - South Australia

Alcohol: 14.5%.

Blokes Notes: The Irvine Merlot has become the premiere wine of its type in Australia, and probably for good reason. Interestingly, many Merlot producers in Australia seem to find it difficult to gain that extra edge that Irvine seems to do consistently year in, year out.  Merlot can be quite a fickle variety in the vineyard, and is quite sensitive to yield variations. The perception  of Merlot by many in Australia is also a little perplexing, that of a thin, soft, easy drinking style. Have these people never had a bottle of good Bordeaux?

The 2005 Irvine Merlot is quite big, but has a great apex on the palate between sauvory and fruit driven characters, that gives it power but with complexity. It has nice fine seamless tannins that integrate well, with a very rich and generous mouthfeel. What’s also suprising is how well it deals with a highish alcohol. Although not in the same league as the Grand Merlot, it still would seem exceptional to many other Australian Merlots on the market.

Click here to puchase the Irvine wines from our Australian & New Zealand Store