Wrattonbully 
100% Merlot
14% Alc
 
While almost all Australian Merlot in the bottle is from one clone, this wine, our flagship wine, is a multi-clone blend made from French clones that are new to Australia, on a site that produces fruit a grade or two above what is normally expected of Australian Merlot. These ‘new’ clones grow better and so may be harvested earlier providing a new set of flavour profiles and wine styles for Australian Merlot. This wine aims to be a new benchmark Australian Merlot.
 
Our parcel at MÉRITE was established in 2006 with a deliberate goal: let’s produce much better Merlot. The 'new' clones were planted on a pristine unplanted site - the French clones were not grafted onto another previously planted vine’s roots which readily influence the upper vine. Each clone was planted in a Phlloxera-free zone on own-roots and low vigour rootstocks and on two different soil profiles so that a winemaker may select from a ‘menu of Merlot’ at harvest time.
 
"Matured in French oak. This is polished and plush with sweet,berried fruit rolling attractively through the palate, complemented by cedar, violet, bay leaf and graphite characters. It feels complex on its own, easy going way, for the most part, though as it breathes the intricacy of the tannin is revealed, for the positive. a creaminess to the texture ramps up the pleasure that little bit more." 
94 points Tasted Aug 2023 Campbell Mattinson Wine Companion