Mordrelle ‘Basket Press’ Merlot 2019 from Langhorne Creek is a deep, intense red that takes Merlot into serious, structured territory rather than soft and simple, while still feeling plush and inviting in the glass.

Aromatically it’s all dark cherries and darkish berry crush, layered with hints of spice, chocolate, tar and winter–forest earthiness that give real savoury depth. On the palate you get a solid core of purple and blackberries and plums, feeling a little coiled at first but opening into a rich, concentrated mid‑palate with fine, firm tannins and a long, dark, smooth finish.

Food–wise, Mordrelle Basket Press Merlot 2019 is spot‑on with grilled steak, lamb rump, rich pasta ragù, roast mushrooms or hard cheeses where its dark‑cherry and blackberry fruit, spice and earthy undertones really shine. It’s drinking well now with a short decant but clearly has the stuffing to evolve beautifully over the next 5–8 years as those tannins resolve and more secondary notes come forward.