Merite 2020 Q Merlot

I don't recommend a lot of Australian merlots, simply because many of them are made from inferior clones and fail to deliver the best of the variety. Now Australia has some better clones of merlot coming into their own - and this wine is made from one of them: Q45. What that means is that you get a whole lot of body, texture and personality, but still get that lovely smoothness on the finish. The 2020 vintage was a difficult one on the Limestone Coast with heatwaves and Covid lockdowns, but this certainly delivers some serious slurpability. I'd pair it with lamb chops or a gourmet hamburger. $33 and available at Dan Murphy's stores. https://meritewines.com/