Smith And Hooper Merlot 2023

One of the champions of Merlot over many years, and this is another example of what can come from the Limestone Coast in South Australia. It’s typically vibrant and alive with plummy red fruits and a touch of black fruit nuance with a lifted cedary oak note. I guess it’s more in the medium zone, but that slightly earthy, savory character adds a degree of complexity on the palate. Fine chalky tannins are typical of the region, and the oak is deliberately underplayed but still important.