2023 Garagiste Merricks Pinot Noir

96 POINTS

Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion

This always hits the right spot, bullseye, and all for its excellent fruit, tannin structure, balance and beauty. Thankfully, better yields this vintage allowing 33% whole bunches into the ferment then nine months in French oak, 25% new. It’s heady with florals, woodsy spices, autumn leaves and twigs, while the fuller-bodied palate takes in dark cherries, poached rhubarb and chinotto with blood orange, too. Tangy, juicy acidity rides in tandem with the textural raw silk tannins. Energising now in its youth and promising to develop more complexity in time.

94 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

How good is the hole in the label of these Garagiste wines. Quite specific. I kind of want to tip the bottle into the sink, so I can see it without the wine in the background. Though maybe Fluffy Hair Adair, legendary guy who takes all my samples will get to see that. I’m kind of envious of that. Anyway, a bit of whole bunch and a considered level of new oak – 25% of both of those, I believe. Spicy, wheaty, some green bunch and frisky perfume, raspberry and cherry, with an earthy tobacco sort of flavour, in with bold cherry and spiced plum. It has energy, and yes, there’s some winemaking magic at play here, though it works and the balance between sweet fruit and sappy spice is so appealing. Tannin is firm. Cherry pip richness is there. But the whole thing works so well. Blood orange tang and spice on a finish of excellent length. Dusty and spicy to close. Yep. Uncompromising in a way, but very good.