Mission Estate Merlot 2010 – $$

L brought the bottle over to mine, and we drank it with fantastic Island bay Butchery porterhouse steaks, potatoes, peas and corn on the cob. Simple food, rich wine.

It was deep dark red, almost black in colour. It had been opened the previous day, with one glass out of it. Smelled quite funky, with forest floor, mushroom and, dare I say it, some oyster shellfish notes? Odd, but not bad.

On palate it was forward, with some rich fruit and medium tannins. Quite savoury.  It was very interesting to see the unusual development of this wine.