Fresh wine from down under! The 2015’s from south of the equator are starting to appear up top, and if this bottle is typical, it’s a good thing. Firm as you would expect in its infancy, the fruit has no trouble coming right to the front, with cherry, blackberry, mint and a little tarry note present on the nose and in the mouth, and a long, leafy finish that keeps the fruit in play. I’d serve this with a rich meat dish — roast lamb is the first thing that pops to mind. A Platinum Award winner at the 2016 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition.
Wakefield Estate / Taylors, Clare Valley (Australia) Merlot 2015
By Rich Cook