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