2017 Geoff Merrill G&W Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale

This wine is a blend of fruit from Coonawarra and McLaren Vale. The “G” is for the Graymoor Vineyard in the Coonawarra and “W” for Wickham Park in McLaren Vale. The division of fruit is 55% in favour of Coonawarra, the remainder from McLaren Vale. The wine spent twenty months in a mix of American and French oak hogsheads, 20% of which was new. Amazing value when one considers that this wine has almost a decade under its belt already. Dark red/maroon in colour, the nose has earthy notes with tobacco leaves, florals, chocolate, smoked meats and root vegetables, and there is even a little oak still evident. Juicy in style with good focus and still some appealing energy, there is a lingering finish on a wine of medium to good length. It should still drink beautifully for the next six to ten years. Drink 2025 to 2035.

93 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, October 2025

Geoff Merrill has been making wine at Mount Hurtle in McLaren Vale since 1985. Scott Heidrich has worked alongside Geoff as senior winemaker since 1993, and the style of this wine has remained consistent across every vintage.

G stands for Graymoor in the Coonawarra here, and W for Wickham Park in McLaren Vale, both estate vineyards. Coonawarra contributes cassis, blue fruit and the region's characteristic fine herb and mint thread while McLaren Vale adds dark chocolate, warmth and generous fruit weight. The winemaking follows the same patient philosophy as the rest of the Geoff Merrill range, including extended oak maturation followed by bottle ageing at the winery before release. The 2017 vintage produced good Cabernet fruit across South Australia.

Dark red with developing brick hues, the nose shows dark plum, cassis and dark chocolate with tobacco leaf, herbs and earthy complexity. The palate is full and structured with ripe fruit, fine tannins and good acidity carrying through to a long, confident finish. Honest, traditional and reliable — Geoff Merrill at his most consistent.

The 2018 arrives ready to drink and would be a treat for example with a Greek inspired table with an eggplant casserole and slow roasted lamb.