The Seabrook name is synonymous with wine in Australia. From expert wine judges to negociants, exporters and in the last few generations as winemakers with Hamish Seabrook being the 5th generation involved in the wine industry.
His range of Seabrook wines have expanded from originally being a Victorian Shiraz to now cover wines from his own family vineyards in the Barossa and fruit from contract growers, with each label paying homage to a generation of the Seabrook Wine Industry lineage. “The Merchant” Barossa Valley Shiraz (named after grandfather Douglas Seabrook), “The Chairman” Great Western Shiraz (named after Great Grand Father TC Seabrook), “The Broker” originally a Yarra Valley Pinot Noir now a Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon (named after father Iain Seabrook), and “The Judge” Eden Valley Riesling (named after Hamish’s wife’s grandfather John Marshall).
This 2016 The Merchant is a superb drop, anyone who access to a cellar needs to have a look at this. tried beside the impressive 2012, the 2016 is probably a touch better, and will only improve with time in that cellar.
The 2016 was hand picked and open fermented, spending 22 months on 35% new half American/ half French oak, and it shows in the wine. Extremely well handled and a touch better than the 2012. Notes of cassis and dark spices leap from the glass, think Arnott’s Spicy Fruit Roll, those little pillows of spiced fruit. That new oak has added just the right amount vanillin and cedar to the wine.
On the tongue its complex, full bodied, dark and dense with just a touch of oak – lactone in there that gives the wine a silky feel in the mouth. Dark fruits dominate the palate with a touch of aniseed . Fine smooth tannins and a long lingering, more-ish finish.
Perfect drinking now, but will age well till 2030 or so. 94pts.
