Merlot is at the heart of some of the world’s most sought after and expensive wines – Pétrus anyone? In the heavy clay soils of Pomerol and St Emilion, Merlot reaches heights unequalled in the vinous world. The best Merlot-dominant wines from the Right Bank of Bordeaux deliver a combination of richness, flavour and a touch of the exotic, without an excess of alcohol.
Taken away from its Bordeaux home, Merlot all too often lacks structure and depth of flavour. Sure, it works well as a blending grape in a supporting role with the two Cabernets, sometimes with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, or even paired with Sangiovese or Tempranillo. But single varietal Merlot, particularly from Australia, rarely excites.
Yarra Yarra Vineyards has strong pedigree when it comes to Bordeaux-styles, red and white. It’s flagship ‘Yarra Yarra’ a Cabernet-based blend, is a benchmark it its type, plush and velvety in texture with a savoury profile. The 1999 Yarra Yarra Merlot is clearly a well made wine; it possesses fragrant aromatics, a savoury palate and finishes long. Yet it lacks the excitement factor and class of the other Yarra Yarra wines. All in all, this is a good wine, but one provides further evidence that, with the odd exception, in Australia, Merlot is best used as a blending grape.
1999 MERLOT
Producer: Yarra Yarra Vineyard
Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 1999
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 6 May 2012
Tasting Note:
Bright ruby red, fading slightly at the rim. Slightly lifted nose with floral aromatics (lilac?), plum, cherry, cranberry, leather and spice. Dry, medium bodied, savoury, bright plum/cherry fruit interwoven with oak spice. Finishes with good length, but just moderate complexity.
Score: 15.5/20
Taken away from its Bordeaux home, Merlot all too often lacks structure and depth of flavour. Sure, it works well as a blending grape in a supporting role with the two Cabernets, sometimes with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, or even paired with Sangiovese or Tempranillo. But single varietal Merlot, particularly from Australia, rarely excites.
Yarra Yarra Vineyards has strong pedigree when it comes to Bordeaux-styles, red and white. It’s flagship ‘Yarra Yarra’ a Cabernet-based blend, is a benchmark it its type, plush and velvety in texture with a savoury profile. The 1999 Yarra Yarra Merlot is clearly a well made wine; it possesses fragrant aromatics, a savoury palate and finishes long. Yet it lacks the excitement factor and class of the other Yarra Yarra wines. All in all, this is a good wine, but one provides further evidence that, with the odd exception, in Australia, Merlot is best used as a blending grape.
1999 MERLOT Producer: Yarra Yarra Vineyard
Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 1999
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 6 May 2012
Tasting Note:
Bright ruby red, fading slightly at the rim. Slightly lifted nose with floral aromatics (lilac?), plum, cherry, cranberry, leather and spice. Dry, medium bodied, savoury, bright plum/cherry fruit interwoven with oak spice. Finishes with good length, but just moderate complexity.
Score: 15.5/20
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