2019 Gentle Folk Norton Summit Merlot

Long has Gentle Folk’s Gareth Belton spruiked the virtues of merlot.
Now he farms a lot of it (a little, really), but he does a magnificent job. Adelaide Hills merlot – the future – he says. Well, this might just be the portal. Organic farmed on the Morialta Vineyard of Norton Summit, home to the pub with the great view, great schnitzel, those people who sit out the front smoking the Devil’s Lettuce. It’s tight and fine, firm and precise, beautiful in its pretty blue fruits, violet floral character, lavender whiffs and a hedonistic undertow of plummy richness, though that’s a shy character. It’s all gloss and shine in texture, shy of medium weight, undeniably bright and jolly fruited but it feels tempered. Great to see the restraint. Succulent, detailed and just straight up unreal to drink. What a coup. Mike Bennie - The Wine Front