Merricks Estate Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula 2016

At our dinner on 29th April 2021, the Merricks Estate Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula 2015 was a clear standout for me. Merricks Estate Pinot has a broadness and delicacy at the same time. Merricks Estate Pinot is both old-school and modern. It has the depth of plums and spice, with the red fruits and floral notes. It is spicy and earthy, with great structure. The palate of Merricks Estate Pinot is plush, silky and succulent. It is moreish and drinkable. Merricks Estate Pinot is drinking perfectly right now. It will probably get better over the next decade or so. But I am going to drink my Merricks Estate Pinot now because I love it. Merricks Estate Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula 2015 and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts. The Merricks Estate original vineyard, established in 1982, allows for the production of beautiful wines made from Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Bottle ageing before release is the cornerstone of Merricks Estate. Because of this, you get to drink them at their peak. Not only are the wines stunning, but they are a fantastic price for the quality you get. Merricks Estate Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula 2015 Wine Notes Anthony Gismondi Gismondionwine.com 93 points “Located by the sea, near Western Port Bay, Merricks Estate was one of the first commercial vineyards, planted in 1978. Immediately the old Pommard clones give off saline, sea notes, with quenching minerality continuing the length of this medium-bodied red. Wild herbs season a pure-fruited core of raspberry, red currant and plum, until white pepper spicing caps the finish. Tannins are finely structured, balancing out the finessed fruit. Distinctive.” Mornington Peninsula  Mornington is one of the star regions in Melbourne’s dress circle. Varied success depending on terroir and winemaker, but the best are outstanding. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay can excel with Riesling, Pinot Gris and Sparkling, all capable of impressive wines too. Pinot Noir This is the most elusive grape. It is relatively early ripening and extremely sensitive to terroir. Its perfect place on earth is the Cote d’Or in Burgundy. So haunting are great red Burgundy’s charms that growers everywhere try to emulate them. Pinot Noir is not just a one-trick pony. Apart from the best reds in the world, you can find world-class Pinot Noir rosé and sparkling. You can even find sweet wines, whites on occasion, and I’ve tasted a decent fortified Pinot Noir too. Australian Wine The invasion of “Sunshine in a bottle” put Australian wine on the map.  The fruity, easy-going, somewhat samey wines were endearing for a short time. Then the next big thing knocked them off their perch. This forced producers to increase quality and emphasise the special terroirs of Australia. Of which, there are many. And many more yet to be discovered. Wine Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years. The wine grape is pretty special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins. Human inputs can influence the final product. This includes the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too. The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. This is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different. Red Wine Fun fact; most of the colour for wines comes from the skins. There are only a handful of grapes that have red juice. Alicante is the most well known of these grapes. By macerating the juice on the skins, the wine gains tannins, and flavours. Certain compounds change the chemistry of the wine too. Red wines tend to have higher alcohol. More tannin and more oak flavours compared to other styles of wine. But the thousands of grapes and terroirs they grow in influence this. The Wine Depository I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door. Merricks Estate Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula 2015