Gioiello Merlot 2018
- 92
- $27
- Drink by: 2023-2031
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As with the more recent vintage, the grapes were handpicked, de-stemmed and crushed into open top fermenters, before a gentle pressing into French oak barriques for 18 months. Deep magenta in colour, there are prominent plum and plum pudding notes, spices, dry herbs, bergamot, fruitcake and a hint of leafiness. Good focus and silky tannins for a mid-length wine that will drink well for the next six to eight years. While the two vintages sit on a par at the moment, and both offer pleasing drinking, this is the one which will step up in the coming years. A really good Merlot.
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.
