Aroma
Bright fruit aromas dominate, combining red currant, plum,
blackberry and cherry, with dark jubes and fruit leather but it is also
complex, with an earthy background of tarriness and black olive and
some spicy, charry oak.
Appearance
Deep brick red and ruby hue; bright condition.
Palate
The immediate impact is one of bright generous black fruits of
blackberry, plum and cherry and even a touch of licorice. Underneath
is a firm but well-balanced structure. Good acidity supports the lively
fruit notes and then the wine finishes with firm, chalky tannins, some
dark chocolate and soft, toasty oak.
Cellaring Potential
Looking back over the history of Merlot at Ribbon Vale, it has made
some of its best wines in the cooler years. The 2002 and 2006 vintages
are classic examples of this and both continue to age very well and it’s
hard for us to believe the former has now celebrated its 21st birthday.
The 2021 should continue this theme and, given the additional length
of the season and associated improvement in flavour and tannin
ripeness compared to the earlier vintages, our expectation is we are
looking at perhaps our best cellaring prospect so far. It will need at
least a decade to reveal the beginning of the bottle bouquet of
chocolate, coffee bean and tar and will require a further ten years
before this dominates. In the meantime, the palate will gradually
soften and the choice of drinking window will depend on personal
preference.
