The Yarra Valley appears to have a number of sites suited to Merlot yet I don’t sense a lot of enthusiasm for the variety within the region. This would be one of the last Punt Road wines Kate Goodman played a part in. She leaves to pursue her own label, Goodman Wines, and other (no doubt nefarious) activities with Bird on a Wire’s Caroline Mooney. Tim Shand takes the reins as chief winemaker.
Smells of purple and red forest berries, fresh plums and ferns with a little menthol lift. Only just medium-bodied with a rounded mid-section and dark chocolate tannins. A wine with a staid demeanour. 89
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $25
Tasted: June 2014