Downes Mount Bullet Merlot 2018

QUESTION: What would you pay for truly GREAT Merlot?

The most expensive wines in Bordeaux come from the “right bank” of the Garonne River and are predominantly Merlot driven, the most expensive of which is Chateau Le Pin, which now sells for $4,000/btl bottle. (yes – you read that right!) Petrus is not far behind.

Once you get outside France, there’s Italy with wines like Ornellaia’s Masseto which sells for $800/btl bottle. There are other great Italian Merlot-predominant wines in the $200 – $300 range, but not that many. When it comes to the “new world” Merlot, you’ve got wines like Duckhorn ‘Three Palms’ at $120/btl or Shaeffer and Cakebread at $75/btl. There’s a handful of others in that $50-$75 range, but that’s it really. There’s not much from the southern hemisphere – notably, James Irvine’s ‘Grand’ Merlot from Eden Valley at $75/btl, is one of the best. But there’s not much else that’s noteworthy.

But then there’s this wine – Downes Family ‘Mt Bullet’ 2018 (trades in South Africa as Shannon Vineyards).

Close your eyes, and stylistically, this is like drinking top flight, right bank Bordeaux, which would easily sell for $400+/btl. Now add to all this the concentration of the 2018 vintage, following 3 years of brutal drought in the Cape, and now you’re now talking about a wine with the power of some of the great Bordeaux, like Ausone, Lafleur and Cheval Blanc which sell for $600-$1000/btl. Yes, we really said that.

It is our opinion that this IS the best Merlot in the new world. Of course, we’re biased, but you’re welcome to prove us wrong. Even though this is pricey when it comes to this category, if you pay attention to what’s inside your glass, instead of what’s written on the label, you’ll quickly agree with us – this is an absolute steal!