2015 Blue Poles Reserve Merlot
Margaret River, WA
Top flight Merlot by one of the country's best exponents of the variety.
$40.00
Out of Stock
There’s not many better Merlots made in this country, I’ll warrant.
Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
About the Wine
Mark Gifford and his Blue Poles label are one of the true dark horses of Margaret River. As Campbell Mattinson put it, "It does things its own way; it’s a renegade of the classic varieties."
The range of Bordeaux-inspired wines produced by Gifford are some of the finest in WA, especially for their price. Here we have something quite rare from Mark and Tim. The Reserve Merlot is a wine only made in tiny quantities from the very best vintages. The 2015 vintage, as Mark describes it, "was a Merlot vintage."
This is a Merlot built with structure and poise, this release is set for a long sleep in the cellar or for a big glass and plenty of air if you drink it young. Few winemakers in the country take this variety as seriously as Mark Gifford, and this is his most articulate expression from this vintage.
As Gary Walsh noted in his 94+ point review, "There’s not many better Merlots made in this country..."
About Blue Poles
Blue Poles is the venture of Mark Gifford and Tim Markwell - a pair of experienced geologists who have in the last decade or so created one of the undoubted 'cult hero' labels of Margaret River.
Their red wines are extraordinary not only for their old world charm and quality, but the outrageous value they deliver. Tiny volumes produced but definitely a producer to get to know.
Margaret River, WA
From the Producer
Viticulture
The fruit was severely thinned prior to veraison, and handpicked early one morning. Any grapes that were considered not good “enough to eat” were dropped on the ground. The technical data on these grapes are as below: Merlot: Picked 17 March 2015 Total weight 6,324 kg (Only 6 Barrels selected for the Reserve) Baume 13.2 pH 3.35 TA 5.80
Winemaking
The wine was curated by Clive Otto and Kate Morgan and fermented in a closed vat and continuously “pumped over” to extract colour and tannins softly, with ferment being completed after 14 days. The wine was pressed and placed in French oak barrels and stored for 22 months. This wine was made by tasting and re-tasting every barrel of wine that we had produced from the 2015 vintage and came across a combination of 6 barrels that was simply exemplary. Our usual volume of Reserve Merlot was achieved this year with the larger crop and the balancing barrels produced an exceptional Allouran.
Food Match
Will last for decades and suits slow roasted red meats as an accompaniment to an opened bottle.
Blend : Merlot (100%)
ABV : 13.30%
Closure : Screw Cap
Drink Until : 2030
Bottle Size : 750ml
Critic Reviews
"Supple and sensual, with velour tannin, and a thickness and density that’s delivered with a light touch. Plum and red fruits, baking spices and ginger biscuits, dried mint and aniseed, and perhaps a little sweet tobacco too. Pushes through the finish with impressive length, earthy tannin, black olive, and a fresh strawberry vibrancy both in flavour and acidity. There’s not many better Merlots made in this country, I’ll warrant." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
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