Norfolk Rise Vineyard Merlot 2022
- 93
- $22
- Drink by: 2024-2032
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The fruit here came from four discrete blocks situated at the vineyard at Mt Benson. Each block was fermented individually. The parcels then saw some ageing in older hogsheads. Deep blood red in colour, there is a flick of oak evident. The nose gives us notes of plums, Christmas cake, tobacco leaves and dark cherries. There is a degree of refinement here. Nicely balanced with good length, it will provide attractive drinking for at least the next six to eight years. This is a very fine example of a local Merlot, which is certainly something we can’t say about them all.
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.
