Log in / Sign up Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot 2018
A vintage that produced some spellbinding wines, and this is right up there with some of the best. This is high-class merlot displaying power and poise. The structure and combination of oak, fruit and tannin are excellent. Leafy fruit with a trace of black fruits and dark plum. The palate has a grainy texture accentuated by the chalky tannins. Moss Wood has put a lot of time into managing this vineyard which they bought some years ago, with a particular emphasis on tannins. This is a merlot that makes quite a statement.
Distinctly aromatic, with the full range of Merlot’s red and black fruits. Lots of blackberry, blueberry, plum and cherry, brightened by musk stick confectionery fragrance. Underneath lie the earthy complexity of tarry notes, plus toasty oak and leather.
The theme of generous dark fruit follows through on the palate, where the front and middle are immediately filled with blackcurrant, mulberry and licorice. This sits over a full body and typically firm Merlot tannin structure but the combination is supple and well-balanced, something we don’t often see in the young Ribbon Vale Merlots. The finish shows some tarriness and there is also some toasty oak evident.
