Nottage Hill Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
Best enjoyed young and fresh, typically within 1 to 4 years of vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roast chicken, tomato-based pasta dishes, grilled pork chops
✨ Technical Specifications
Hardys Nottage Hill Merlot is a tribute to Thomas Nottage, the nephew of founder Thomas Hardy, who dedicated 66 years of his life to the Tintara vineyards. Launched in 1967, the Nottage Hill range has become a cornerstone of accessible Australian wine. Sourced from selected vineyards across South Eastern Australia, this Merlot is crafted to showcase vibrant fruit character, soft tannins, and immediate drinkability. The winemaking focuses on preserving the primary plum and cherry fruit flavors, utilizing subtle oak contact to add a touch of spice and structure without overpowering the grape's natural plushness.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1853 by Devon immigrant Thomas Hardy—widely venerated as the father of the South Australian wine industry—Hardys stands as one of the quintessential pillars of Australian viticultural history. Operating from its spiritual home at the historic Tintara cellars in McLaren Vale since the 1870s, the house leverages both estate vineyards and cross-regional grower partnerships spanning South Eastern Australia. The estate’s terroirs in McLaren Vale benefit from a Mediterranean climate moderated by cooling gulf breezes and an intricate tapestry of ancient soils ranging from terra rossa and red clay to weathered sandstone. Hardys has long championed a winemaking ethos predicated on master blending, structural power, and fruit purity. While celebrated for approachable commercial staples like the Stamp and Crest collections, the pinnacle of the house is reflected in its cellar-worthy icons: the Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon and the Eileen Hardy Shiraz and Chardonnay, which benchmark the ageability and depth of South Australian fruit.
🍇 Grapes
Merlot
🍷 ABV
13.5% - 14%