2023 Geoff Merrill Reserve Chardonnay, McLaren Vale Coonawarra

This is a fifty-five McLaren Vale and forty-five Coonawarra blend which comes from careful barrel selection each year. There’s richness here with a mix of stone fruit and roasted cashew characters. It’s had a reasonable hit of new French oak for nine months in a mix of hogsheads and puncheons, and yet the fruit has absorbed and managed it and harnessed it rather well. It’s a slightly older style Chardonnay in many ways, but with that fine, precise acidity, it just brings it forward into the modern domain. Really impressive wine over the next five to six years.

95 points Ray Jordan Wine Pilot

A slightly unexpected combination on paper, fruit drawn from both McLaren Vale and Coonawarra comes together here with a clear sense of purpose. Geoff Merrill, a true character of the Australian wine scene and one of the country’s most experienced winemakers, has spent decades refining a style that leans toward richness and approachability while still holding structure.

By blending these two regions, you get the best of both worlds. McLaren Vale brings generosity and ripe stone fruit, while Coonawarra contributes a fresher edge and a subtle mineral line, helping to keep everything in balance.

Bright straw with a golden tint, the aromatics are generous and inviting. Peach, nectarine and ripe melon lead, followed by hints of citrus, toasted cashew and a gentle vanilla note from oak. There is a warmth to the fruit, but it is lifted by a touch of freshness.

The palate is rounded and textural, stone fruit and citrus layered over a creamy mid palate. Oak plays a supporting role, adding spice and a touch of toast, while a line of acidity keeps the wine from becoming too broad. It finishes smooth and satisfying, with a lingering note of ripe fruit and soft spice.

This is a great match for dishes with a bit of richness. Roast chicken with herbs, pork with apple, or grilled seafood with a buttery sauce all work beautifully. It also pairs nicely with dishes that carry a bit of spice, where its texture and fruit come into play.

Drinking well now, though it will hold over the next five to seven years as it softens and develops more nutty complexity.

There is an easy, generous feel to this wine, a Chardonnay that delivers flavour and comfort, making it a reliable choice for both everyday drinking and relaxed entertaining.