If there’s a better merlot in Australia, please get its maker to send a bottle for tasting. The bouquet is perfumed, and multifaceted, red fruits, spice and French oak all competing for space, the palate an object lesson in terms of flavours (predominantly red fruits), texture (supple) and structures (superfine tannins). The oak? Well, yes it’s there.

5 red stars 97 points