Wither Hills Merlot 2018, Hawkes Bay
Distinctive, familiar, fruity almost masculine bouquet of Merlot with aromas fleshy dark plums laced with vanilla pod and baking spices, dark cherry and velvet rose moments then toasty almost smoky wood. On the palate - dry, plump and fruity, plenty of plums, cherry and wood flavours all rolled together. Firm tannins and acidity to match, but nothing the right food could easily tame. Balanced and almost ready with best drinking from late 2020 through 2023.
89 Points