Merlot
If Merlot isn’t the most famous red, it is the most international. Legendary Merlots command top dollar but even the cheapest are reliably approachable and plummy. Not always as complex as its equally famous cousin Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot’s trump is ripening early - making drinkable wines in any climate. Hot climates like America allow hedonistically (over)ripe, jammy Merlots with deep colour and soft tannins, while moderate to cool climates like New Zealand produce Merlots with plush fruit but more helpful acid freshness. In its homeland of Bordeaux, Merlot often blends plumpness into more tannic Cabernet, though in Bordeaux’s legendary left bank wines, where Merlot dominates, it is picked not-too-late to preserve the acid and tannin structure for aging.

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2018 Thomas Goss McLaren Vale MerlotA full-flavoured Merlot from McLaren Vale legend, Thomas Goss. This fruit comes from vineyards on the original Goss property, where the moderate climate of the McLaren Vale has produced a lovely ... read moreElsewhere up to $21.99 Save $5.00 $16.99 in mixed 6+ or $18.99 per bottle
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2021 The Hunting Lodge Expressions HB Merlot MalbecA fantastic discount on this delicious Hawkes Bay Merol Malbec. The excellent vintage of 2021 has produced a beautifully lush and satisfying wine under the Expression label, with classic ... read moreElsewhere up to $21.99 Save $5.00 $16.99 in mixed 6+ or $18.99 per bottle
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2021 Squawking Magpie Gimblett Gravels Chatterer Merlot MalbecThe delicious red was Bob Campbell's Top Value & Buy of the Week in October 2023 scoring it a massive 93/100- a huge result for a wine of this price. (Bobs 'price benchmark' for Merlot blends ... read more$23.99 in mixed 6+ or $26.99 per bottle
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2019 Squawking Magpie The Gravels Merlot CabernetA rich and complex Bordeaux-style red from Hawkes Bay. Such great results come from Squawking Magpie's increasingly old vines on the Gimblett Gravels, which produce a red of serious depth and ... read more$29.99 in mixed 6+ or $33.99 per bottle
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2020 Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels MerlotThis Merlot shows why Craggy Range are so classy. The hot and dry Gimblett Gravels is probably the best spot in NZ for this variety, but instead of making an over-rich style they follow Bordeaux ... read moreElsewhere up to $38.99 Save $6.00 $32.99 in mixed 6+ or $36.99 per bottle
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2022 Boneline Pink Noise RoseA new Rose from a stylish Waipara producer. The Pink Noise has a softly dry palate that is one of the finest in the Rose genre this summer, made from mostly Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. Very ... read more$33.99 in mixed 6+ or $37.99 per bottle
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2021 Saintayme Saint-Emilion En PrimeurEn Primeur product: order now for arrival mid 2024. A plump and rich Merlot from Saint Emilion, this wine offers serious aging potential for the price. Quality vineyards have ... read more$39.99 per bottle
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2020 Mission Estate Jewelstone AntoineAnother incredible 97-point red that just placed in the Top 12 wines from a fantastic vintage on the Gimblett Gravels. Andrew Caillard MW just released his exclusive Top 12 selection for 2020 ... read moreElsewhere up to $48.99 Save $9.00 $39.99 in mixed 6+ or $44.99 per bottle
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2021 La Chenade Lalande de Pomerol En PrimeurEn Primeur product: order now for arrival mid 2024. A staff and customer favourite, La Chenade is a flowing and juicy Bordeaux for a modest price. Mostly Merlot from sandier ... read more$44.99 per bottle
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2022 Saintayme Saint-Emilion En PrimeurEn Primeur product: order now for arrival mid 2025. A plump and rich Merlot from Saint Emilion, this wine offers serious aging potential for the price. Quality vineyards have ... read more$45.00 per bottle