Region
Located just 30 minutes drive south east of Adelaide and parallel to the coast, these rolling hillside vineyards produce some of Australia`s finest Shiraz and Grenache based red wines. Some of the areas historic old wineries were established in the late 1800s and many remain today. With a strong regional identity on the international stage, the wines have a distinctive style and subtlely achieved from a combination of very warm summers, mild winters and cooling sea breezes. Many of Australia`s most famous and expensive wines have their vineyard origins within this region.
 
Producer
Geoff Merrill was born in 1953 and was raised on a sheep station in the far north of South Australia until he was 11 years old. The Merrill family then moved to the Barossa Valley, just north of Adelaide, where Geoff`s first links with the wine industry were formed. Following his `apprenticeship` at Chateau Reynella, in 1985 he purchased the historic Mount Hurtle winery. Reknowned for his handle-bar moustache and friendship with many of crickets elite, his talents were rewarded in 2005 when he received the legendary Jimmy Watson Trophy, probably Australia`s most prestigious wine award, named after the iconic Jimmy Watson`s Wine Bar in Melbourne.
 
Tasting Notes
Talented winemaker, Geoff Merrill has produced an archetypal south Australian Chardonnay with a youthful lemon colour and green hues. The nose has aromas of complex toasty vanillin oak and citrus fruit which are well integrated and smooth. Matured in French oak barrels to add toasty complexity before finishing clean with lingering flavours of lime, honeydew, apple and white peach with undertones of subtle oak.
 
Food
Thai food, shellfish, poultry, pasta with cream sauces and soft cheese.