Black olive tapenade, espresso and bay leaf notes are firm and dense, with blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors at the core. Tobacco and toasted herb accents linger on the firm finish. Drink now. 4,168 cases made, 1,610 cases imported.

The 2021 vintage was cool in McLaren Vale, and that season has brought with it a lightness and leafiness in the 2021 The Scooter Merlot that the 2020 did not possess. The fruit is soft but doesn't stand up to the alcohol through the finish. The high-octane style, in my opinion, suits the Shiraz better than it does the Merlot. Each to their own.