Clarendon Hills Brookman Merlot 2003

Wine Advocate ReviewThe 2003 Merlot Brookman Vineyard (which saw about 40% new French oak) is superb. A strong case can be made that there is no better Merlot being made in Australia. It is a dense, thick, juicy effort offering hints of roasted coffee intertwined with berry fruit and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, long, opulent, and silky, it should be enjoyed over the next 10+ years.

January 2009

The 2003 Brookman Merlot, highlights the quality of the fruit that is produced from forty-five year old vines, planted on deep clay soils. The wine is a deep ruby red almost black in color, scented with aromas of herbs, plums, coffee and earth. In the mouth the wine reveals flavors of dark chocolate, plums, mocha and earth. This Merlot is medium to full bodied, rich and silky with a long finish.

IWC 90[+?] (8/2005): Deep red. Aromas of ripe cherry, mocha and roasted coffee. Quite sweet and round in the mouth, showing a sweet, deep cherry flavor complemented by dark chocolate. Here there are none of the green edges found in so much New World merlot. Intense, structured and long, finishing with faintly dusty tannins and a subtle raw meat note coming up with air.

October 2008

Rating: 88/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 155 on Oct-04

Rating: 92/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 161 on Oct-05

Rating: 79/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 01/01/05