Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot
| Wine Facts | |
|---|---|
| Median Harvest Date | Merlot – 30th March Cabernet Franc – 30th March Cabernet Sauvignon – 5th April |
| Mean Harvest Ripeness | Merlot – 13.2⁰ Be Cabernet Franc – 12.8⁰ Be Cabernet Sauvignon – 13.0⁰ Be |
| Yield | Merlot – 5.4 t/ha Cabernet Franc – 7.8 t/ha Cabernet Sauvignon – 5.6 t/ha |
| Blend | 86% Merlot 7% Cabernet Franc 7% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Ripening Time from Flowering to Harvest | Merlot – 119 days Cabernet Franc – 121 days Cabernet Sauvignon – 128 days |
| Bottled | 4th August, 2025 |
| Alcohol | 14.0% |
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot – Winsor Dobbin, Wine of the Week
Many merlots in Australia are made in a soft and simple style; as easy quaffers. Not so his one from the cabernet masters at Moss Wood in Margaret River. It is full of verve and texturally complex, a nod to the great merlot-led wines of Bordeaux’s right bank. More structured…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot – Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal
Medium deep crimson. Fresh dark plum, redcurrant, cedar, black olive aromas and flavours with herb garden/ star anise notes. A core of sweet fruit with underlying cedar/ fine grainy tannins and hints of vanilla oak. Finishes grippy firm with some sappy notes. Very buoyant and expressive but probably best to…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Cherry, plum, olive leaf and oregano, cedar and tobacco, a nutmeg and lemon zest top note. It’s medium-bodied, quite savoury, nutty and earthy, a mix of red and black fruit, plenty of tightly-knit tannin, balanced acidity, with a firm black olive laced finish of excellent length. Quite compact at present…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot -Ray Jordan
This vineyard has been producing some of Australia’s best merlots in recent years. This one is perhaps the most refined and elegantly poised of any I can recall. The vintage has clearly played an important part. The nose shows all of those black fruit, spicy, slightly mocha-like characters. While the…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
This Margaret River Merlot from the Ribbon Vale Vineyard also enjoys the presence of 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Maturation was in French oak barriques, 18% new, for twenty-eight months. The colour is a gleaming maroon, while the nose reveals aromas of plum pudding, blackcurrants, plums, cloves, beefstock,…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot – Marc Malouf, Wine Worth Writing About
Deep, dark ruby with a heady nose of violets, black berries and plum, a hint of orange rind, dried thyme, black tea, tobacco, licorice, boot polish, graphite and complex spice. In the mouth it’s rich, muscular and serious with flavours of plum, black cherries, juicy red berries, fig and bay…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot – Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine
A standout merlot that confirms Ribbon Vale as one of Australia’s best sites for the variety. Dark fruits and lifted florals dominate the nose, while the palate shows generosity and effortlessness supported by structure and poise. There’s depth and vibrancy here, carried with elegance. A wine of great expression with…
WA Wine Review 2024
Ray Jordan “Moss Wood is a family-owned wine company and a pioneer of the Margaret River region. Planted in 1969, Moss Wood is an important founding estate of Margaret River. Clare and Keith Mugford, as viticulturalists, winemakers and proprietors, have been tending the vineyard and making wine at Moss Wood…
Vintage Notes
The 2022/23 growing season at Ribbon Vale proceeded without major disruption and allowed the vineyard to progress in a measured and consistent manner. For the 2022 calendar year, rainfall totalled 1114mm, approximately 9% above the long-term average. For a dry-grown vineyard, this resulted in adequate soil moisture reserves at the commencement of the growing season.
Spring conditions were generally favourable, although rainfall during flowering influenced final yields. Between October and the end of November, while the vines were flowering and setting fruit, 89mm of rain was recorded. While not excessive, this rainfall coincided with flowering and is reflected in reduced fruit set and the lower-than-average yields recorded for several varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Following flowering, conditions became relatively dry. From the beginning of December through to harvest, only 18.8mm of rain fell. This limited rainfall, together with the soil moisture established earlier in the season, allowed ripening to continue without evident water stress while maintaining low disease pressure. Canopies remained healthy, and fruit development progressed steadily rather than being driven by rapid sugar accumulation.
Summer temperatures were moderate, with no prolonged heat events. Ripening was unhurried, with harvest commencing in late March and extending into April. Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 5.6 tonnes per hectare, approximately 17% below its long-term average of 6.73 t/ha, and was harvested three days later than average. Merlot produced 5.4 t/ha, around 28% below its long-term average, and was harvested nine days later than usual.
Taken together, the distribution of rainfall, moderate temperatures and restrained yields resulted in an extended ripening period across the vineyard. Fruit was harvested without pressure, allowing flavour and tannin development to keep pace with sugar accumulation. The wines reflect these conditions and the stress-free nature of the 2023 season.
Production Notes
All fruit was hand-picked. After destemming, the Merlot was placed into closed fermenters and cold soaked to enhance colour and aroma before being warmed and seeded for primary fermentation. Extraction was managed by pump overs, with temperatures maintained below 32°C throughout the fermentation. The fruit remained on skins for 14 days before being pressed.
Following pressing and malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured in 228-litre French oak barriques, with 18% new oak for 28 month. The final blend comprises 86% Merlot, with 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The wine remained unfined and was sterile filtered and bottled on 4th August 2025.
Tasting Notes
Colour and condition:
Medium to deep ruby hue; bright condition.
Nose:
Plum, blackberry and dark cherry, with violet, spice and earthy undertones.
Palate:
Medium to full bodied, with generous fruit of black cherry and mulberry, supported by supple but clearly defined tannins. The balance is sound, with fresh acidity and a savoury finish.
Cellaring
Ribbon Vale Merlot shows its best form in seasons where ripening proceeds steadily rather than being driven by heat. While approachable in its youth, the wine is clearly structured for extended cellaring. We recommend a minimum of 10 years in bottle, with full maturity expected between 20 and 25 years.