Black & Ginger Great Western Merlot 2023

Merlot still gets a bit of a bad rap but it’s entirely undeserved; in the right hands, it can be beautiful. The Black & Ginger Merlot is full of life, with aromas that spring from the glass: red cherry, black olive, black pepper, bay leaf and some tertiary leather and earth. The tannins are grippy and the fruit is bright on the palate. With its predominance of savoury characters, it’s fantastic with food, especially a tomato-based stew or something with a bit of kick. It will continue to age gracefully for at least another five years.