Geoff Merrill G & W Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Geoff Merrill G & W Cabernet Sauvignon 201419. 95 per bottle ABV 14. 5% Region McLaren Vale located just 30 minutes drive south east of Adelaide and parallel to the coast, these rolling hillside vineyards produce some of Australia`s finest Shiraz and Grenache based red wines. Some of the areas historic old wineries were established in the late 1800s and many remain today. With a strong regional identity on the international stage, the wines have a distinctive style and subtlely achieved from a

£19.95 per bottle

ABV 14.5%

Region
McLaren Vale - located just 30 minutes drive south east of Adelaide and parallel to the coast, these rolling hillside vineyards produce some of Australia`s finest Shiraz and Grenache based red wines. Some of the areas historic old wineries were established in the late 1800s and many remain today. With a strong regional identity on the international stage, the wines have a distinctive style and subtlely achieved from a combination of very warm summers, mild winters and cooling sea breezes. Many of Australia`s most famous and expensive wines have their vineyard origins within this region. Coonawarra - the southern most and coolest of South Australia`s vineyards, benefitting from the cooling influences of the Southern Ocean. The soil comprises of a thin strip of iron rich red soil, or `terra rosa`, that imparts a special regional minerality to the wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

Producer
Geoff Merrill was born in 1953 and was raised on a sheep station in the far north of South Australia until he was 11 years old. The Merrill family then moved to the Barossa Valley, just north of Adelaide, where Geoff`s first links with the wine industry were formed. Following his `apprenticeship` at Chateau Reynella, in 1985 he purchased the historic Mount Hurtle winery. Reknowned for his handle-bar moustache and friendship with many of crickets elite, his talents were recently rewarded when he received the legendary Jimmy Watson Trophy, probably Australia`s most prestigious wine award.

Tasting Notes
The Geoff Merrill winemaking philosophy has been and always will be, to make wine that allows regional, varietal and vintage expression, without excessive winemaker intervention. This rich Cabernet is blended from two regions that impart a distinct identity, Graymoor in Coonawarra and Wickham Downs in McLaren Vale. It has a deep red colour with youthful purple hues. The aroma shows intense varietal characters of menthol, black olive, mint and capsicum with subtle complex oak in the background. The palate is wonderfully supple and fleshy with fine firm tannins providing excellent structure. Intense flavour, good length and well balanced acidity complete this outstanding wine which can continue to evolve and develop further with bottle maturation.

Food
A fantastic barbecue wine that works well with roasted meats, lamb hot pot, Indian curries and great with hard cheeses.