2022 Moss Wood Wilyabrup Ribbon Vale Merlot, Margaret River

Merlot with decent glugs of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon; aged 26 months in French oak barriques, 21% new. It comes across as detailed, structured and fuller bodied but not weighty. While its core is all dark fruits with baking spices and licorice, it’s savoury with tobacco, peat and roasted red peppers. And yes, the oak is impacting in youth – as in it has cedary and woodsy spices – but nothing is out of place. The textural tannins are nicely drying and the finish long. Smart now but even better with cellar time.

95 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

The Moss Wood Wilyabrup Ribbon Vale Merlot from Margaret River is a deeply expressive and polished example of Merlot crafted by one of Australia’s most respected estates. Moss Wood, founded in 1969 and long regarded as a benchmark for Margaret River Cabernet, has also built a reputation for exceptional single-vineyard wines. The Ribbon Vale vineyard, acquired by Moss Wood in 2000, lies in the Wilyabrup subregion where gravelly loam soils and the maritime climate produce Merlot with richness, fragrance and a structure that stands comfortably alongside Bordeaux’s Right Bank classics.

In the glass it is deep crimson with garnet edges. The bouquet is generous and aromatic, offering dark plum, blackberry and mulberry alongside notes of violets, cocoa, cedar and dried herbs. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, showing plush, ripe fruit balanced by silky tannins and fresh acidity. Hints of mocha, spice and savoury earth add layers of complexity, while the finish is long, smooth and beautifully poised.

Food pairings suit its supple, elegant style: roast duck with cherry glaze, lamb shanks braised with rosemary, beef bourguignon, or a porcini mushroom ragù. It also pairs well with hard cheeses such as Comté or aged cheddar. With 12 to 15 years of cellaring potential, this Merlot develops greater savoury depth and tertiary notes of leather, truffle and dried herbs while maintaining its rich fruit core.