Bohemian The Author Merlot 2022

Bohemian The Author Merlot
Made by Julz Brogden of Collaboration Wines, this Hawke's Bay merlot shows vibrant, deep purple hues in the glass and a layered nose of plum and dark chocolate underscored by a savoury note of tree bark. The palate continues the story with plum, violets, leather and coffee grounds, dry and textural rather than jammy, with real vibrancy running through to the finish. It is built to be interesting glass after glass, the kind of wine that keeps revealing new layers the longer it sits open. Pair it with something rich, like braised beef or a good hard cheese. At 13% ABV, it is a thoughtful, characterful expression of Hawke's Bay merlot.

What the winery says: The Author is Julz Brogden's Hawke's Bay merlot for the Bohemian Wines project, made with the same hands on, small batch approach she brings to her own Collaboration Wines portfolio. The wine is built around layers of dark fruit and savoury complexity rather than straightforward ripeness, giving a deep purple wine with plum and dark chocolate aromas, an earthy underscore and a textural palate of plum, violets, leather and coffee grounds. Dry and vibrant rather than heavy, it is designed to be sipped over an evening, changing in the glass as it opens up.