Ranked #7 of 18 2004 Merlot  from Eden Valley
      
      
        
        
        
        
      
     
   
  
    85/100
3 Stars
    
      
      
        Huon Hooke
        Medium dark red/brickred, faint purple. Vegetal/humus and slightly dead-fruit/porty aromas. Substantial early developent, too. Rather bitter tannins: some harshness and astringency. Cedary characters, too. Palate is syrupy, alcoholic, oily and dull from dead-fruit and borderline portiness. Definite bitterness at the end.
        Tasted: 09/09/2009
        Drink: N/A
        
       
     
   
 
 
         
        
        
          
              94 Points James Halliday
              Very typical of the Grand Merlot style, with barrel ferment fusing the French Allier oak into the wine, yet not obscuring the varietal statement of the fruit, and helping the super-fine tannins. Drink to 2014.
              James Halliday.  September, 2022