Gioiello Estate was the chosen name for this family winery, in recognition of past generations of the Schiavello family who worked at a property named Gioiello (‘jewel’ in Italian), perched above a hillside town in Calabria, Italy.

If Merlot is your thing, and you do not want to spend a truckload then this Central Victorian example should be on your shopping list. It’s soft and textured with plush dark fruits and a lick of lightly toasty oak. There’s a delightful spicy red cherry and plush plum that releases effortlessly to a sustained finish. The fine firm tannins keep it honest. Date: Oct 2025; Price: $30.00; Drink: 2025-2033; Rating: 91 Points; Ray Jordan

Merlot from the Upper Goulburn, which already has the benefit of time in the cellar before release, the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed and crushed in open-top fermenters. After pressing, the wine spends a year and a half maturing in French oak barriques. The colour here is red/maroon. This version of Merlot is slightly more rustic than some, which always provokes debate and division. Some love the style, others less so, but if you enjoy that touch of rusticity, get on board. There are notes of plum pudding, leather, chocolate, tobacco leaves, animal skins, undergrowth and black fruits. The palate is very sleek, well balanced and with impressive length. A well structured wine with fresh acidity, this is a fine Merlot. Enjoy over the next half dozen years. Date: May 2025; Price: $30.00; Drink: 2025-2031; Rating: 92 Points; Ken Gargett