Geoff Merrill `Parham` Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

£69.95 per bottle

ABV 14.5%

Region
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.

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
“A tribute to Bill Parham, Geoff Merrill`s grandfather, who lived 102 years and one month. This Cabernet will, too, be long-lived. Aged in brand new American oak for 27 months and sourced from two premium sites - “Wickham” McLaren Vale (85%) and “Graymoor” Coonawarra (15%). The American oak adds some sweetness, but the depth of blackcurrant fruit out-wrestles it. Quite a herby and tomatoey type early, sage, mint and some dried herbs are prominent alongside that black fruit.

Food
Would be great with beef brisket and slow roasted Moroccan lamb shank.

Media
James Halliday awarded 96 points. Sam Kim, WIne Orbit, awarded 96 points.