2018 Black Market Conviction Ridge Merlot🔥 92+pts

92+pts Carl’s Wine Club

The first-ever home-vineyard Merlot. This is a wine of structure. Bold and powerful, this seven-year-old single-vineyard Merlot is just entering its prime window of drinkability and it’s fascinating to taste. The vineyard’s location in Kaleden and the age of the vines has everything to do with that.

On the nose, aromas of dark fruits, tar, espresso coffee, pipe tobacco, and freshly cut herbs are impressive right out of the gate. The 50% new French oak is beautifully integrated at this stage and adds an extra layer of complexity on the aromatics. On the palate, flavours of blackberry, black currant, and black orange tea unfold alongside pronounced savoury notes, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish. Tenacious and sweet tannins frame the wine and highlight its stunning complexity. This wine can easily age for another five to seven years without a shadow of a doubt. Well done, Rob Hammersley.

Food Pairing: Beef tartare, lamb Wellington
Drink: Now through 2032
Winery Price: $NA