Dandelion Damsel of the Barossa Merlot

Winery 

Dandelion

Region 

Barossa, Australia  

Varietal

Merlot

Alcohol%

14.5

Tasting Note

Colour:
Crimson-black and lively and enticingly dark-violet-blue.

Nose:
A tightrope 100 feet up with concentrated blackberry and blueberry on one end of the balance pole, and a lick of heightened oak and confectionery on the other. Inky aniseed, fennel, pink peppercorns, and bay leaf waft down as we all look up in wonder

Palate: 

Merlot’s power sits here in a tight and unwound coil of red-berry fruit energy, much like a Black Hole drawing all else in. Black and blueberries; raspberry compote; hints of cassis and mulberry jam. This is
textural red wine, yet also carries a berry fruit sweetness and succulence; then is it overcome by super-powdery tannins and flavours more savoury; then the lushness returns, then, and then, and on and on.

Food Pairing

Autumnal days. That’s the time to sneak up on this wine. Cellar it for 8 years, or open it tonight in readiness for tomorrow’s luncheon - if you cannot wait on the cellaring. There’s so much poise and dimension here that all you and the wine need to do is... breathe... Take the time over luncheon to let the wine slowly speak; listen. Duck Confit or your own Duck Neck Sausage served with Lentils. Watercress Salad. Ducks, after all, do like cress.