Description

In rugby, the boys up front are often referred to as "the fatties", "Ciccio" in Italian. Merlot is kind of like the fatty of the wine world, famed for its plumpness and workhorse nature in blends of on its own. This Venetian is 100% Merlot and offers a fantastic introduction to the region with its juiciness but unmistakable Italian black olive and dried herb notes.

Smells

Classic plum, black forest fruits and a whiff of dried oregano and sage.

Tastes

Warm, inviting and plump, there is a vibrant acid line that we always love in Italian wines, making the mouth water in tandem with the gentle drying of the fine-grained tannins. The result is a plump yet medium-bodied red with great balance - sort of like the way front rowers used to be in the John Kirwan era!