Merlot Damsel of Barossa

Merlot gets overlooked in Australia, which makes this wine all the more satisfying. From Carl Lindner’s Lohner Vineyard in Lyndoch, the cooler, wetter southern end of the Barossa where the variety actually thrives, old vines grown on some of the oldest soils on the planet. Whole bunches, natural fermentation in open fermenters, hand plunged and basket pressed into older French and American oak, bottled without fining or filtration. Mulberry, dark plum, damson, dark chocolate and a thread of dried herbs, with silky tannins and genuine depth. A natural match for Thai massaman beef and Japanese gyutan.