Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Merlot Reserve, 2021

This smells rich, ripe and toasty, with savoury herbs alongside sumptuous aromas of chocolate, butter fudge, figs and dates. In the mouth, it is full-flavoured, with fragrant cedar, vanilla, and an extravagant, juicy texture. There is a herbal element also, which provides fresh counterpoint to the expansive richness. Packed with complexity, this is an amazing wine to drink immediately, and it shows promise of getting even better over the next few years.