Premium Reserve Winecasks 2LT Merlot

Pretty Good
"Give it a good swirl and enjoy its concentrated flavours and reasonably fleshy texture. It’s pretty grippy and so it really does need the recommended stir-fry or homemade burgers."

Peter Forrestal, Quaff 2010, October 2009

"Among the reds, the merlot was soft and broad; an easy-drinking barbecue quaffer."

Ken Gargett, The Courier Mail, February 2009

"Looking at the De Bortoli casks in the cold light of day, I'd probably be making a choice between the two varietal ones - so it comes down to whether you prefer merlot or shiraz. This has lively, dark berry, plummy flavours and reasonably balanced tannins. Good with food."

Peter Forrestal, Quaff, December 2008

"My my, the De Bortolis can do it in cardboard as well as glass - what next? Tetra-Pak? (Well, maybe - I read the French are at work as we speak developing a wine product that comes in a milk carton. Export only, of course.) This is a nice, simple, fruity merlot. It doesn't tax your brain, it's just a nice Tuesday-night feet-on-the-couch kind of tipple. And it's pretty good on cornflakes too."

Stuart Gregor, Don't buy wine without me, December 2006

"De Bortoli casks are a brand that both retailers and consumers know and trust. De Bortoli casks continuously perform outstandingly well in tastings and are widely recognised as amongst the best you can buy. For example, the Premium Reserve Merlot 2 litre was awarded Cask Wine of the Year 2006 in Quaff, written by wine writer Peter Forrestal."

, Liquor Watch, February 2006

CASK WINE OF THE YEAR
"The competition was hot this year - with four outstanding reds jousting for the ‘Platinum Pillow’. I can’t remember seeing such good-quality cask wines before: that glut is doing consumers of red casks a very big favour. The De Bortoli Merlot has lovely red berry aromas, is soft, round and full-bodied, smooth and pleasant in the mouth and has a nicely balanced finish. The fruit and the oak are in harmony, the tannins are restrained. If you are thinking about whooshability - and who isn’t? - then this merlot has it by the bucket (or cask) full. Bloody Good."

Peter Forrestal, Quaff, The best 400 wines in Australia under $15, December 2005

"Fresh, vibrant red berry fruit. Pleasant spicy characters. Nice chalky tannins. A touch phenolic at the end."

, Winestate, Feature Tasting - Cask Wines, April 2005

"Pretty and soft stewed plum fruit nose. Earthy, stewed berry palate showing hints of mint and cigar box underneath. Drying tannins."

, Winestate, Feature Tasting - Cask Wines, April 2004

"There is plenty to like about this smooth, rich, sweet-fruited merlot. It has lively plummy flavours, good depth, moderate tannins anda sweet softness on the finish."

Max Allen & Peter Forrestal, Quaff, The Best Value Wines In Australia, December 2003