Geoff Merrill Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016
- 96
- $65
- Drink by: 2024-2044
Share
From a stunning vintage, this is really good value. Compare it to other prestige reds, especially those with considerable time in the cellar already, and this seems like a steal. In the end, all that matters is whether or not it is a good wine. And it is extremely good. The wine spent 29 months in a mix of American and French oak barrels, all new. Deep maroon, even with eight years ageing, the wine is still poised and taut, and still needs time. The nose exhibits notes of dry herbs, mocha, coffee beans and cocoa powder all supported by black fruits, plums, mulberries and cigar boxes. There are silky tannins, immaculate balance plus extreme length and it carries all before it. This still has a twenty year future.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
