Ellis of Richmond

Wine List

Geoff Merrill `Reserve` Chardonnay 2007

Country
Australia
Region
South Australia,
McLaren Vale/Coonawarra
Producer
Geoff Merrill Wines
Grape(s)
Chardonnay
Type
White
Style
Rich
Oaked Style
Oaked
Body Style
Full bodied
Dry / Sweet Style
Dry
Alcohol Content (%)
14
Closure Style
Cork
Organic / Biodynamic
Normal

Region

McLaren Vale - 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. Coonawarra - the southern most and coolest of South Australia`s vineyards, benefitting from the cooling influences of the Southern Ocean. The soil comprises of a thin strip of iron rich red soil, or `terra rosa`, that imparts a special regional minerality to the wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

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 (Long)

This wine is made from a rigorous selection of the best barrels and is a blend of Chardonnay fruit from the Coonawarra, Padthaway and McLaren Vale vineyard regions of South Australia. The wine displays a honey and melon bouquet, integrated with subtle oak aromas and a rich palate. Fantastic weight and complexity, bursting with pineapple and peach fruit flavours, followed by a youthful finish.

Tasting (Short)

A Merrill limited release the wine shows a honey and melon bouquet with subtle oak aromas. Fantastic weight and complexity on the palate with bursts of tropical fruit flavours and youthful finish.

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Drink Type
White
Grape
Chardonnay
Region
South Australia
Style
Rich
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