Finding good Australian Merlot is rather like trying to find the proverbial ‘needle in a haystack’. Away from its natural home of the clay rich soils of Pomerol and St Emilion, Merlot can be rather bland, lacking depth and structure.
The 1997 release Tatachilla’s Clarendon Vineyard Merlot, grown in the hills above McLaren Vale, was released to much acclaim on the show circuit. It garnered several trophies, and was awarded Best Red Wine of the Competition at the 1999 Sydney International Wine Competition. One should add that the wines are tasted with food at this competition, which no doubt affects how they are judged.
Now nearing maturity, it appears that the judges may have made a good call over a decade ago. This is a Merlot of quality, with genuine depth and no small amount of interest. Clearly, it has seen quite a lot of oak, all French and probably fairly high toast, but that is part of the style; in this instance, it works. This is an unashamedly modern, flamboyantly styled Merlot, and a good example of its type.
1997 CLARENDON VINEYARD MERLOT
Producer: Tatachilla
Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 1997
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
ABV: 14%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 4 March 2012
Tasting Note:
Plum red fading slightly at the rim. Bold nose of charcoal, liquorice, blackberry, plum and tar. Full bodied, voluptuous and supple palate, tannins are fully resolved, primary fruit (plum, briar) is still hanging on, though there’s a touch of secondary complexity and oak derived notes.
Score: 17/20
The 1997 release Tatachilla’s Clarendon Vineyard Merlot, grown in the hills above McLaren Vale, was released to much acclaim on the show circuit. It garnered several trophies, and was awarded Best Red Wine of the Competition at the 1999 Sydney International Wine Competition. One should add that the wines are tasted with food at this competition, which no doubt affects how they are judged.
Now nearing maturity, it appears that the judges may have made a good call over a decade ago. This is a Merlot of quality, with genuine depth and no small amount of interest. Clearly, it has seen quite a lot of oak, all French and probably fairly high toast, but that is part of the style; in this instance, it works. This is an unashamedly modern, flamboyantly styled Merlot, and a good example of its type.
1997 CLARENDON VINEYARD MERLOTProducer: Tatachilla
Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 1997
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
ABV: 14%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 4 March 2012
Tasting Note:
Plum red fading slightly at the rim. Bold nose of charcoal, liquorice, blackberry, plum and tar. Full bodied, voluptuous and supple palate, tannins are fully resolved, primary fruit (plum, briar) is still hanging on, though there’s a touch of secondary complexity and oak derived notes.
Score: 17/20
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