Merite

Ultra Wrattonbully Merlot 2015

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  Vintage 2015
  94 points www.winecompanion.com.au

Five clones (8R, Q45, 181, 343 and D3V14) fermented and matured in French oak separately before a barrel selection and blending. Fastidious winemaking is evident all along the way, but at this stage, the French oak is very obvious in the context of a pure, medium-bodied wine with the finest possible fruit tannins increasing the oak influence. With only 62 dozen made, not much will remain to tell the tale 15 years from vintage - balanced or not?

• 

  Vintage 2015
  93 points The Wine Front

Excellent concentration of flavour, not to mention character. Blueberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant flavours come swept with gum leaf, choc and woodsmoke. It’s soft and sturdy at once; the balance of fruit, oak and acidity is noteworthy, and a pleasure to experience. The interesting aspect is the tannin, which is hulking. It’s good tannin, ripe and attached to the fruit. But it’s so firm and sizeable that it seems slightly too much in context. It’s a minor quibble, and with food it would melt away anyway. It’s an excellent wine.