2019 Geoff Merrill Bush Vine SGM, McLaren Vale

This is a slightly more dominant Shiraz with a significant component of Grenache and a small amount of Mourvèdre completing this classic blend. It’s a rich and quite succulent wine with a slightly spicy lift. It’s medium-bodied but plush and seamless with a succulent richness in the middle palate. The oak has been astutely managed and sits with perfect integration as a slightly fine, bony character, which adds to its complexity. This is an excellent drinking wine now, and I prefer to tackle these wines with just a few years of bottle age on them. Drink 2025 to 2032.

94 points Ray Jordan for Wine Pilot, September 2025

Another version of this blend, this time with Shiraz dominant. The wine spends almost two years in a mix of older American and French oak puncheons and already has a number of years in the cellar, to its advantage. All of this combines to make this extremely good value. A deep, blood red hue, the nose provides a wide array of aromatics, including mulberries, tobacco leaves, charcuterie, chocolate and coffee grinds. There is juicy acidity running the full journey, an attractive supple texture, fine tannins and impressive length. A thoroughly enjoyable McLaren Vale red which will drink beautifully over the next 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.

The Bush Vine SGM blends roughly equal amounts of McLaren Vale grown Shiraz and Grenache with a small 10% component of Mourvèdre. Traditional winemaking practices round off with the wine spending 19 months in seasoned American and French oak puncheons. The 2019 McLaren Vale vintage was hot and dry, resulting in smaller than average yields, but the overall quality was considered very high.

Warm and savoury aromas lead the way with earthy black fruits, dried herbs, spice, coffee, cocoa nibs and charcuterie. The palate is medium-bodied and well-rounded with generous ripe and succulent fruit. Fine tannins and balanced, juicy acidity.

The wine arrives ready to be enjoyed with chargrilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic or hearty stews with root vegetables and herbs.