Just as I am ready to park my parker, I am also ready to leave those big reds on my wine rack and start enjoying the lighter side of life. Moving from a big red to the lightest of whites is clearly a process though, I will need to adapt my wine selection to the weather and warm up to summer where I foresee myself sipping Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at a picnic in the park, relaxing with a Rose at an afternoon BBQ or bubbling away with the festivities of Champagne in the lead up to Christmas. But what lies in between? Well, I will have you know that there is an assortment of wines to sample in white and red that will tempt your taste buds in this beautiful interim season.
On a Spring day where the sun is shining, yet there is a chill in the air you may still need something soothing, a quality which I find mostly in red wine. A medium bodied version that I have recently taken notice of is Merlot. It is an interesting grape dark blue in colour. It is widely planted throughout the world as it can be used on its own to create a single variety wine (known as a varietal), or it can be blended with other grapes to create a multitude of wines differing in complexity and flavours. It is a grape that ripens quickly and is best produced in cool climate regions.
The best quality Merlot is grown in Australian vineyards in the cooler areas of Adelaide Hills, Eden Valley, Orange and the Limestone Coast. As recommended on the Australian Good Food and Travel Guide some Merlots worth trying this Spring are recommended below. Try one of the ones suggested or speak with the shop assistant at an independent local bottle shop to get some advice on a good wine. One I really like is the Wolf Blass Yellow Label Merlot. It is very affordable at $15.99 and is a really easy wine to drink.
Enjoy the first days of Spring and until next time, have a glass for me. Alex Mac
Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2006
This wine is one of substance with fleshy fullness of flavour. The palate has an abundance of red be...
RRP: $19.99 |
Bliss Vineyard Merlot 2005
With optimal temperatures for a unprecedented growing season, 2005 afforded us the perfect weather f...
RRP: $21.00 |
Printhie Orange Merlot 2006
A complex bouquet of earthy, blackberry aromas. This Merlot continues onto a round and soft palate d...
RRP: $19.00 |
