Margan
Estate Merlot
Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
2006 Vintage. I first tasted this wine at a degustation lunch at the Margan restaurant. The food was terrific, as were the matched wines, but it was this aged merlot that stole the show. The wine wasn’t available for sale at the cellar door, but the obliging wait staff very kindly allowed us to purchase three bottles directly from the restaurant wine list.
This is a lightly oaked merlot that has undergone a wondrous transformation after a decade of ageing. The youthful plum and black cherry flavours have developed and transformed into the most amazing yet delicate complex savoury palate I have tasted in a merlot in a long while. Rich earthy flavours mingle with a graphite minerality, sweet tobacco and darkly roasted meaty flavours. Some residual sweetness remains on the palate for a perfect balance. The tannins are super fine, providing great structure and a nice textural experience. A long extended finish allowing the savoury flavours to linger. A very complete tasting experience.
A very unpretentious wine that has transformed into something quite remarkable. A real cinderella moment. Throughly delectable.
2006 Vintage. I first tasted this wine at a degustation lunch at the Margan restaurant. The food was terrific, as were the matched wines, but it was this aged merlot that stole the show. The wine wasn’t available for sale at the cellar door, but the obliging wait staff very kindly allowed us to purchase three bottles directly from the restaurant wine list.
This is a lightly oaked merlot that has undergone a wondrous transformation after a decade of ageing. The youthful plum and black cherry flavours have developed and transformed into the most amazing yet delicate complex savoury palate I have tasted in a merlot in a long while. Rich earthy flavours mingle with a graphite minerality, sweet tobacco and darkly roasted meaty flavours. Some residual sweetness remains on the palate for a perfect balance. The tannins are super fine, providing great structure and a nice textural experience. A long extended finish allowing the savoury flavours to linger. A very complete tasting experience.
A very unpretentious wine that has transformed into something quite remarkable. A real cinderella moment. Throughly delectable.