Print this Wine         1997 Clarendon Hills Merlot   CLARENDON                 January Release   Merlot       Given the attention the media and merchants, and the public seem to lavish on Roman Bratasiuk's amazing Shiraz and Grenache wines, it is easy to think that perhaps he does not make anything else, let alone wines of the quality of this Merlot. Yet this is quite clearly one of the finest if not the best example of Merlot produced in Australia. This particular vintage sees the standard raised even further. The wine is most fragrant with luscious sweet plums combining with exotic aromas of spice, notably cloves and cinnamon. There is an overlay of toast coming from some new oak but the fruit is indeed dominant over the other characters. The fruit is again prominent on the palate. In addition to the flavors the palate has the added bonus of texture, and this is where this wine particularly shines. It has a velvety texture that coats the mouth and makes the flavors linger on and on. The toast and vanilla is quite prominent and blends well with the ripe almost stewed plum fruit character. The wine has great persistence at the back of the palate with the intense fruit intermingling with the firm chalky tannins medium acid. Though attractive now the wine will indeed benefit by laying it down and waiting,. However the fruit intensity is so great at the moment it is hard to be patient. Indulge in a few bottles over the coming months, and cellar the balance for 7-10 years. Serve a rich game inspired dish to match the complex nature of the wine. Venison would make an ideal partner, particularly when it is served with a sauce that incorporates spicy components in the marinating stage and also in the sauce.

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