Stumble Vineyards Merlot 2016

This bold, velvety red shows off Bruce Jack’s winemaking skills to the full. He studied at Adelaide’s renowned Roseworthy wine college, then put theory into practice at iconic Aussie wineries Grant Burge and Simon Hackett. Based in a former dynamite factory just 400 metres from the sea, his award winning winery is designed with minimal interference in mind. For starters, the pressing of the grapes through to the bottling of the juice is all done by gravity alone to preserve a wine’s silky texture. Bruce often finds his best grapes while he’s out hiking far off the beaten track. Then he has to hunt down the owners and persuade them to part with their fruit. With dense plum fruit, this red is tasty with tomato rich pasta or grilled meats.