Peccavi 'The Estate' Merlot 2020, Margaret River
The Estate range represents the pinnacle of Peccavi's vineyard and winemaking philosophy. Sourced exclusively from the finest vineyard parcels of Peccavi Estate in Margaret River, these wines are produced only in vintages where the fruit meets our uncompromising standards of quality, balance and character. Every bunch is hand-harvested, meticulously hand-sorted and crafted in exceptionally small batches using state-of-the-art boutique winemaking equipment, allowing each parcel to be vinified with absolute precision. Combining exceptional Bordeaux clonal material, sustainable vineyard stewardship and careful maturation in the finest French oak, The Estate wines are built for longevity while remaining unmistakably Margaret River in style. Powerful yet refined, they express purity of fruit, elegance, structure and a profound sense of place, rewarding both immediate enjoyment and decades of careful cellaring. Tasting Note: Either the best or the second-best Australian merlot ever released. I’m uncertain which because I’ve given it the same score as the 2018 edition of the same wine, but haven’t tasted them together. Either way, Australian wine should celebrate that it has a merlot able to punch it out with all but the very finest from Pomerol. Deeply perfumed, with heady layers of violets, dark cherries, blueberries, mulberries and dark plums tightly knit with cedar/cigarboxy oak, it reveals nuances of musk, dark chocolate and mineral. Fullish to medium in weight and underpinned by a firm, gravelly spine, its core of faintly sour-edged fruit and meaty, briary complexity drives long and sumptuous towards a lingering, stony and savoury finish. It flaunts its varietal purity, polish and finesse. Perfectly ripened and pristine, it’s artfully balanced and ready to enjoy. Or to open anytime over the next 30 years or more. - Jeremy Oliver Ratings: 98 points - Jeremy Oliver ALC ( %): 14% Variety: Merlot Volume available: 750 ml