The Pinot vines at Merricks are 28 years old and sit on grey loams and red ferrosols, but with a north-facing aspect. Yields were slightly higher than in 2023, and the fruit’s integrity meant it retained balance with Barney’s preferred inclusion of 33% bunches. The winemaking is, as always, pretty hands-off: natural fermentation as bunches and whole berries, with gentle extraction and 10 months in 20% new oak.
Barney’s touch with whole bunches is notable and, as usual, it’s seamlessly integrated, providing savoury balance to the trademark power and intensity of the Merricks fruit. It’s very deep and layered, full of berries, spice, flowers and licks of minerality. This is serious (and seriously brilliant) Pinot, combining grippy structure with fresh lift, gliding weight and lingering length. This will get even better with air and—why not?—roast duck
Critic Reviews
95 POINTS
Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion
A distinctive trait of the Garagiste pinots, they are savoury. Sure there’s a core of good fruit, but the cherry accent is merely one component; there’s the spice, the woodsy, cedary oak, all integrated, the ferrous character, almost stony, the pleasantly drying tannins and flourish of fine acidity to close. It’s complete. It’s also charmingly aromatic.
95 POINTS
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front
Barney Flanders, who I’ve met just the one time, seems to me to be a very special fellow. The sample box was addressed to Lord Walsh, so, you know, I’m inclined to like him even more. Will Byron who’s a kind of sexy guy said he was sending samples of his Onannon wines, and then did not, so I chased him up, and then radio silence. Two very handsome men here, making great wines from the cool climes of Mornington, though only one is delivering the goods. And that is Barney. Just saying. Simon Black is also funny and does comedy in his samples. And also Gerry McFaul is a favourite because we share a love of the Chantoozies, who I once supported in one of my bands back in the early 90s.
This is a rich, spicy and cherry laden wine. There’s some orange peel and amaro twang, an earthy spice. a bit of empty chocolate box, a cool mineral thing happening, a dusty and graphite grip to tannin, juicy dark cherry and grainy tannin on a finish of excellent length. Crisp, flavoursome and energetic. Sappy and wheaty. Very good Pinot here.
94 POINTS
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front
This is a rich, spicy and cherry laden wine. There’s some orange peel and amaro twang, an earthy spice. a bit of empty chocolate box, a cool mineral thing happening, a dusty and graphite grip to tannin, juicy dark cherry and grainy tannin on a finish of excellent length. Crisp, flavoursome and energetic. Sappy and wheaty. Very good Pinot here.
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Tasting Notes
The Pinot vines at Merricks are 28 years old and sit on grey loams and red ferrosols, but with a north-facing aspect. Yields were slightly higher than in 2023, and the fruit’s integrity meant it retained balance with Barney’s preferred inclusion of 33% bunches. The winemaking is, as always, pretty hands-off: natural fermentation as bunches and whole berries, with gentle extraction and 10 months in 20% new oak.
Barney’s touch with whole bunches is notable and, as usual, it’s seamlessly integrated, providing savoury balance to the trademark power and intensity of the Merricks fruit. It’s very deep and layered, full of berries, spice, flowers and licks of minerality. This is serious (and seriously brilliant) Pinot, combining grippy structure with fresh lift, gliding weight and lingering length. This will get even better with air and—why not?—roast duck
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