Devils Creek Merlot
I’d like to congratulate the local Michelini family on their excellent Devils Creek 2002 Merlot. We enjoyed a bottle of this wine with our meal at Porepunkah Pub on Friday night.
On Saturday at the Alpine Enoteca wine bar in Myrtleford we each bought a bottle to take home, having discovered it was great value at just $10.
If I have a criticism of our local wine it’s the price. I like to support the three main wineries and generally buy their produce for special occasions, however price is sometimes an obstacle.
That’s why it was a pleasant surprise to find the Devils Creek Merlot in the $10 range.
I visited the Michelini Wines web site and discovered this description of the Merlot:
“Medium cherry red, lifted ripe plum and chocolate notes. Supple mid palate, lovely charry oak characters from ageing in French oak barrels balanced with firm acid finish. Enjoy with Asian meals incorporating sweet chilli sauce.”
I don’t know about any of that. My only comment is that we all liked it. I often think that Australian reds are too fruity and leave an unpleasant after taste. Some of the Merlot I discovered in South Africa introduced me to the variety, which at that time (1990) was uncommon in Australia.
I liked the dry, clean taste of the South African Merlot. Until the last couple of days I hadn’t experienced that in Australian equivalents.
Michelini’s marketing of the Devils Creek range is interesting. The name is snappy and invites inquiry. I knew that Devils Creek is a tributary of the Buckland River and flows through the Michelini property, but others wouldn’t have that level of detail.
I learnt from the web site that “the creek was famous for disappearing underground some years and welling up again in plentiful supply during others, leaving the exasperated locals to liken it to the Devil himself.”
The last word to Michelinis: “Who knows, a few glasses of Devils Creek may bring out the Devil in you!”
I'm a 41-year-old father of four working as a newspaper editor at Mount Gambier in South Australia.
