14 months French and American oak. Sourced from vineyards 630 metres above sea level in the region of Orange, west of Gartelmann’s traditional home in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

Gartelmann, “Joey” Merlot, Orange, 2015

Originally published 18/08/2016 Fragrant, pretty but a touch dominated by the young oak, before some meaty, savoury notes. Then mint, mulberry, blackcurrant, rubber/eraser too. The body is lightish, due to the altitude, but the alcohol is highish. This is sort of an ish wine,  the darkish fruit feels chunkyish before firmish tannins and savouryish black olive and glossyish, slickish mouthfeel. This is Merlot, but done quite well (made by the very smart hand of Liz Silkman (nee Jackson) of Silkman wines), and the structure allows it to work with spice, which is usually  tough for a red. Pair this with a spiced ragu….or even a jungle beef curry…or a Indonesian satay (fair dinkum, peanuts are tough but I tried it and works.). It’s quite moreish.

Revisited 26/7/19: Has lost the pretty frangrance of youth, those meatier elements dominating. The berries have mooshed to a jus jammyness. Still with black olive savouryness, the slicknessprevails.  The heat is spiky…it hasn’t CTFD quite enough for this to be a a mellow, jolly thing for middle age….Maybe a few years more. Maybe. 17/20

RRP:  (was$25, now $30)
Alc: 14.7%

Wine sample courtesy of Gartelmann Wines and Define Wine