GEOFF MERRILL RESERVE SHIRAZ

A beautifully mature Shiraz from one of the great characters of the Australian wine industry. Geoff Merrill has always had a knack for releasing his reds with plenty of bottle age already behind them, which means you get the benefit of that extra development without having to wait years for the wine to come around. This shows black cherry, ripe plum, tobacco, leather and dried herbs, with plenty of savoury complexity and beautifully integrated oak. The palate still has freshness and lift, with fine tannins and a long, composed finish. Rich and layered, but never overdone. Geoff is also one of the genuine good blokes of the wine industry and was instrumental in helping forge Australia’s early export markets. This is a terrific example of his style — mature, characterful and ready to enjoy now.