Tobin Wines · Elliot Merlot 2022
Granite Belt Merlot. Striking. Structured, savoury, built to hold.
Nose: Plum, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, a touch of sweet oak.
Palate: Firm acidity tightens the mid-palate and needs air to open fully. Long, savoury finish with a thread of clove.
Verdict
A structured Merlot in a restrained French style, with firm acidity and a savoury, clove-edged finish that give it presence beyond the fruit. It has the frame to hold a few years yet. If you drink one now, decant it first. Merlot has a reputation as a blending grape, and that sells it short. A well-made one stands on its own, and this is one of them. Worth ordering from them directly at Tobin Wines.
Drink · Cellar 2–5 yr