2022 Merlot
"If I may, I am always delighted when I open a box of samples and see wine from these guys. For me, they are one of the wineries in this country that most sneak under the radar. The wines are always exemplary and delicious. Coming from the Wilyabrup sub-region, one could say that is to be expected, but these guys never seem to be mentioned in dispatches. Not sure why, because the wines more than deserve it. May I suggest you find out for yourselves. And by the way, they are ridiculous value. 545 cases made of this Merlot, slightly above the annual average. Bright garnet hue here, the nose offers notes of chocolate, plums, hints of Christmas cake, a touch of mocha and well integrated oak. This is a fine example of a varietal Merlot. Seamless, dense, balanced and with a supple texture, there is a good line of acidity through to satiny tannins. Love it. Enjoy over the next five to eight years. 93 points.” - Ken Gargett, Winepilot.com.au, Oct 2024
"Deep ruby red hue. Plum, rhubarb and dusty earth aromatics. Full bodied red with ripe plums, dark earth, mint leaf and woody spices all wrapped in firm gravelly tannins. Reasonable length to a bone-dry finish. 90 points, #4 of 33 Australain Merlots tasted". - Stuart Knox, The Real Review, June 2024
"Shows Merlot's likeability. Meduim bodied, gentle tannins, plum fruit but in a savoury way and refreshing too. Made with estate grown, organic grapes. 3.5 stars." - Fergal Gleeson, Greatwineblog, April 2024
"Dark red berries and plums, treated to vanilla oak, dusty notes in the background, all smooth and seamless, medium-bodied and easy on the gums. Pleasant drinking already, drink over the next 2 years. 92 points. BUY" - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au, April 2024
Past vintage reviews and awards
2021 Merlot
"Medium depth red with a tinge of purple and a bouquet that is fresh and grapy, clean and brightly cherry-like, with a suggestion of carbonic maceration adding a spiciness and some intrigue to the wine. It's not too simple, but has detail. Good intensity and depth of flavour, medium bodied and elegantly crafted, with mild tannins and appetising freshness at the finish. 90 points" - Huon Hooke, Aug 2022
2017 Merlot
"A refined, almost delicate Merlot in the style of Pomerols from the days of old. Luncheon claret, crusty old Brits used to call this style. The nose is slight, the berry fruit is bright and polished with fine French oak (30% new). The wine is long, elegant and slippery, and a pleasant surprise in these days of in-your-face reds. 92 points". - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com, April 2019
"Medium red colour with brick-red tinges and the bouquet is mellow, tobaccoey and vanilla/chocolaty, seemingly quite forward-developed. There is a touch of firmness in the tannins, which are ample, and attractive mulberry and cassis flavours emerge as it opens in the glass. A solid glass of merlot that delivers superior value for money. 89 points". - Huon Hooke, therealreview.com, May 2019
2016 Merlot
- Silver medal - 2018 WA Boutique Wine Show
"Matured for 16 months in French oak (30% new). Very light, although bright hue; an elegant, light to medium-bodied wine with fresh blueberry, cassis and cherry fruit flavours that have soaked up the oak. Delicious now, doubly so given its giveaway price. 94 points." - James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, Aug 2019
"I like Rosily wines a lot, but the Merlot never grabbed me. The 2016 is in a different league, confirming my hunch that 2016 was a great red vintage over west. The fruit is dark and restrained rather than plummy and forward, fine acid and tannin draw a long line here, with oak (French, 30% new) adding polish and lovely notes of cedar. The wine has the structure and balance to improve for a few years. 94+ points." - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au August 2018
2015 Merlot
- Bronze medal - 2017 Small Winemakers Show
"This is even better their 2014 Merlot. An outstanding wine that you could slip into a tasting with wines of twice the price and it wouldn’t be out of place. A floral and fruity nose flows through to the taste which has plums and blackberry fruit. Fine tannins to finish. A smooth operator ★★★★." - Fergal Gleeson, greatwineblog.com.
2014 Merlot
"How much is due to terroir and how much to the clone isnt easy to identify, but the end result is a wine that has excellent varietal expression with cassis and plum fruits complexed by nuances of snow-pea, fine grained tannins and neatly balanced oak. Exceptional bargain - 94 points" - James Halliday, 2018 Australian Wine Companion
"Good Australian merlot is a rare bird, and at this price, almost extinct. The colour is deep, the bouquet cedary and ripely appealing, with berry, herb and tobacco touches. The taste is intense, softly textured and long, with some mellowness starting to show." (Screwcap) Score: 91 ★★★★ Aging: Best now to seven years - Huon Hooke, therealreview.com April 2017
"...mixed berries, a bit of truffle rolled in dried herbs, and maybe some coffee bean and chocolate. Medium bodied, berries and some tobacco/leafy business, but carries it all off with a pleasing sense of elegance and drinkability. Tannin is grainy and firm and runs dry on the finish. Much to like about this wine - 90 points." - Gary Walsh, The Winefront, December 2016
"Deepish red with a good purple tint; the bouquet is shy and subtle, but ripe and clean, with a trace of cedar. The palate is firm and long, with just a trace of astringency, which fits within the structure of the wine. The finish lasts long, with an abundance of supple ripe tannins and alcohol warmth - in balance. It could happily take some cellar time. Excellent value for money" Drink 2017 to 2024, 91 points. Huon Hooke, huonhooke.com 14/2/2017
"Not the usual stewed plums and plush red fruits, this Merlot shows restraint and long line and length. Quite austere to begin with, with a serious grip on the finish, but opened up a bit over a couple of days. Needs a couple of years or three to fill out and soften. 91++ points" - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au
"No discussion of value wines in Margaret River would be complete without Rosily wines. Rosily’s wines are made with hand harvested, certified organic, estate grown fruit. When you consider that all their range, except their two reserve wines, are priced from $20-27 you’ll understand what I mean. But enough about price, this is a smooth and savoury Merlot that is medium weight and refreshing. The tannins provide a satin texture. I wish more Australian Merlot was this good. 2015 now available". - Fergal Gleeson, Margaret River Region Magazine, Autumn 2018
2013 Merlot
"I often say something about what good value these wines from Rosily are. No change today. Raspberry and redcurrant, perfume of cedar and lemon zest, maybe a little chocolate. It’s medium bodied and stylish, juicy red fruits with a pleasant herbal lilt, grainy tannin that pulls a little firmer on the finish, cleaning up nicely. Fractionally bitter in the aftertaste, but in a good gustatory kind of way. Like this. It’s very enjoyable and nicely clarety" - 91 points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, February 2016
"From the moment you put your nose near this wine, it's clear that the winemaker had his eyes set on a serious Merlot. It's a masculine red, strong in colour, nose and flavour, with dark berries and plums at the core fighting with the oak at this stage (20 months in French oak, 30% new). It's built for the long haul, so give it 2-3 years and it should be a beauty. 91++ points. BUY for the cellar." - Kim Brebach, Bestwinesunder20.com.au Nov 2015
"Full red colour with a trace of purple. The bouquet is muffled and slightly developed, with some attractive raspberry nuances and cedary notes. The palate has faint bitterness from the tannins, the palate is deep and savoury. A good wine, albeit firm on the finish". **** - Excellent buy, ranked #6 out of 49 Australian 2013 Merlots tasted, price benchmark of $54.20 - Huon Hooke, huonhooke.com Nov 2015
2012 Merlot
"The wine spent 16 months in French oak (30% new). The hue is bright and clear crimson-purple, the bouquet with red berry and leaf aromas, the light to medium-bodied palate with contrasting red and blue fruits on the one hand, savoury foresty characters on the other. Tannins and oak add their support, investing the wine with energy. Neat value. Cellar to 2025" - 92 points. Halliday Magazine, December / January 2015/16
2011 Merlot
- Silver medal 2013 Small Winemakers Wine Show
"Light but bright crimson; spent 16 months in French oak (30% new), which taken in conjunction with the savoury tannins, was a little too much for the weight of the red fruit flavours. Nonetheless, a lot of wine for $20" - 91 points. James Halliday - Published on 2 Sept 2013
2010 Merlot
"Australia's best Merlots come from moderately warm regions, like this one. Deep and bright in colour, it smells intensely of blackberry with some herbal and jammy high notes. It's smooth, savoury and medium-to-full bodied. The drying finish carries plenty of grip." - 92 points – Gourmet Traveller Wine, February / March 2013
"Light red-purple; while only light- to medium-bodied, and with oak obvious throughout, surprises with the way the plum and red berry flavours build progressively through the length of the palate and into the aftertaste, assisted by fine-grained tannins - 90 points". James Halliday - Published on 14 Nov 2012
2009 Merlot
"A handy Merlot from Margaret River that delivers classic blue fruits and gently leafy nuances; some chocolate and nicely ripened plums too. Texturally, it's a medium bodied proposition that delivers juicy blueberry and plum flavour with a tangy acid finish. Drink up." - 91 points – Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide, 2012
"Distinct lifted cedar and leafy floral notes on the nose. Medium bodied wine with a firm thread of fine tannin and oak turning through its quite angular structure. An elegant tightly held merlot that would benefit from some further cellaring. Good food wine with the dryish finish a feature" – Ray Jordan, The West Australian, April 28th 2011
2008 Merlot
"Four stars: From Willyabrup, the quality heartland for Margaret River red wine, this bright young Merlot offers accurate varietal personality and appealing drinkability. On the nose a fruitcakey whiff of Siena cake goes with plum and raspberry aromas as an attractive introduction to a supple midweight palate. Underlined by savoury mouth drying tannins, giving a slightly Italian quality to the finish." Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure, 21/09/10
2007 Merlot
"Ripe, rich and downright stylish nose here, with a swanky mix of sweet mulberry and blue fruits, some plums and cedary pencil shaving oak - gentle herbs too. Nice work, Rosily! The palate has a smooth blueberry and plum flavour, really lovely, charming tannins and a supple, juicy presence through the finish. Terrific merlot." - 93 Points Nick Stock, The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010
2005 Merlot
"Four-and-a-half stars: Good hue; clear-cut varietal expression; redcurrant and snow pea fruit with great support from fine but persistent tannins." Rating 91, drink to 2012 – James Halliday
2004 Merlot
"Four-and-a-half stars: Star bright colour; fragrant red fruits, warm spices, and a hint of snow peas; admirable varietal character." Rating 92, drink to 2014 – James Halliday