2023 Garagiste Merricks Pinot Noir

Highly Rated
Powerful single-vineyard expression of Mornington Pinot Noir from one of the region's leading small producers.
4.0
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
7 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$49.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Barnaby Flanders knows good Pinot Noir, and his reputation for producing top quality wines from Mornington has grown with each vintage release.

His Merricks Pinot is in a bit more full-bodied (in comparison to his other Pinots), but still retains finesse and elegance at the same time. Loads of unique personality, class and complexity to go along with lovely drinkability.

A great wine from one of the gem humans of the Peninsula.

96 points
"This always hits the right spot, bullseye, and all for its excellent fruit, tannin structure, balance and beauty... It’s heady with florals, woodsy spices, autumn leaves and twigs, while the fuller-bodied palate takes in dark cherries, poached rhubarb and chinotto with blood orange, too." 
- Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points
"It has energy, and yes, there’s some winemaking magic at play here, though it works and the balance between sweet fruit and sappy spice is so appealing. Tannin is firm. Cherry pip richness is there. But the whole thing works so well... Yep. Uncompromising in a way, but very good."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

94 points
"There’s a lovely red fruit and savoury interplay aromatically, which blossoms in the glass. The palate has excellent vibrancy, leading with sappy cherry, red florals, and strawberry before a rhubarb and tangy blood orange back palate... Great energy, complexity, and balance on show here. Time in the cellar will allow this to truly shine." 
- Tom Kline (Inside Burgundy)

96 points - "This always hits the right spot, bullseye, and all for its excellent fruit, tannin structure, balance and beauty. Thankfully, better yields this vintage allowing 33% whole bunches into the ferment then nine months in French oak, 25% new. It’s heady with florals, woodsy spices, autumn leaves and twigs, while the fuller-bodied palate takes in dark cherries, poached rhubarb and chinotto with blood orange, too. Tangy, juicy acidity rides in tandem with the textural raw silk tannins. Energising now in its youth and promising to develop more complexity in time." - Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - "Spicy, wheaty, some green bunch and frisky perfume, raspberry and cherry, with an earthy tobacco sort of flavour, in with bold cherry and spiced plum. It has energy, and yes, there’s some winemaking magic at play here, though it works and the balance between sweet fruit and sappy spice is so appealing. Tannin is firm. Cherry pip richness is there. But the whole thing works so well. Blood orange tang and spice on a finish of excellent length. Dusty and spicy to close. Yep. Uncompromising in a way, but very good." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

94 points – "Delicate strawberry compote melds with bunchy spice, wilting red florals, and earth first off, with rhubarb and autumnal leaves thereafter as the wine starts to express. There’s a lovely red fruit and savoury interplay aromatically, which blossoms in the glass. The palate has excellent vibrancy, leading with sappy cherry, red florals, and strawberry before a rhubarb and tangy blood orange back palate. Sappy, earthy tannins frame the finish along with a latent wash of tangy acid. Great energy, complexity, and balance on show here. Time in the cellar will allow this to truly shine. Drink from 2026–2033. Tasted Oct 2024." – Tom Kline (Inside Burgundy)

Customer Reviews

4.0
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 7 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 2 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 1 Total 1 star reviews: 0
7 reviews
  • DW
    Denis W.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    excellent

    excellent Pinot, lovely bouquet,

    taste very typical of pinot with long length

  • RJ
    Ron J.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Garagiste Pinot.

    A lovely pinot.No surprise. All his wines are great.Ron.

  • JC
    Julian C.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Beginner
    4 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Beginner
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Thoroughly enjoyable

    Great tasting Mornington Pinot with a little more heft. Great balance and length.

Reviews LoadedReviews Added

Like the Chardonnay, the Pinot vines at Merricks are 27 years old and sit on grey loams and red ferrosols, but with a north-facing aspect. Slightly higher yields than 2022 gave more volume to play with, and the fruit's integrity meant it retained balance with a greater proportion of bunches, so the whole-cluster portion ticked up a notch from 25% to 33%. The winemaking is, as always, pretty hands-off: natural fermentation as whole bunches and whole berries, with gentle extraction and nine months in 25% new oak.

As is often the case with this producer, the stem component feels seamless, helping strike Garagiste’s trademark fruit/savoury balance. Perfumed, spicy and bright-fruited with deep structure, gliding weight and snappy grip, this is as complete and composed as you could wish for. It gets better and more seamless with time in the glass, which suggests it’s a keeper despite its youthful deliciousness.

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Mornington Peninsula
Australian State VIC
Feature High Score
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Inside Burgundy
Critic Score 96
94
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Garagiste Wines

The Garagiste wines by Barnaby Flanders are a masterclass in small-batch excellence from Mornington Peninsula. Driven by a passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Flanders delves into the peninsula’s sub-regions, harnessing subtle variations in soil and aspect to craft wines of remarkable character.

Since launching in 2006, Garagiste has become a Victorian standout, celebrated for single-site, sub-regional expressions. From Tuerong’s sandy soils to Main Ridge’s rich volcanic earth, Flanders sources responsibly farmed parcels to shape his distinctive wines.

Central to the Garagiste story is Merricks Grove vineyard, where Flanders’ winemaking journey began in 2000. His hands-on approach ensures every detail, from vineyard management to cellar work, delivers wines of precision and nuance. The philosophy is all about balance: picking for acidity, whole bunch pressing for Chardonnay, and natural ferments with restrained oak use. The result? Elegant, complex wines that rank among the peninsula’s finest.

Together with partner Cam, Flanders produces both Garagiste’s cool-climate flagship wines and the superb-value Le Stagiaire range. Whether it’s their textured Pinots or taut Chardonnays, these wines embody the craftsmanship of one of Mornington’s best.

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