Caravan Merlot 2023

John Quarisa, aka Johnny Q, is a terrific winemaker, creating wines that, like him, can be lively and highly charged. In his Caravan series of wines, he likes to think of a grape that changes in style as it travels. Take this Merlot. He vinifies his perfectly ripe grapes in seasoned oak vats. Once fermented dry, the wine continues to rest in French and American oak barrels for a further eight months. The result is a rich, well-rounded Merlot with juicy flavours of ripe plum, cherry and a silky vanilla finish. A delightful glassful on its own, the wine also makes a great partner to grilled duck or a mushroom casserole. Its structure and fruity depth indicate it'll continue to age, but there's little chance of that! It's too irresistible.