Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 326,593 strong:

Register Today!

Oyster Bay Merlot 2013 Wine Review

Oyster Bay Merlot 2013

Oyster Bay Merlot 2013

Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 8

  Add My Review


Price: $19.95

Drink: 2013-2016

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Oyster Bay

Agent: Delegat Canada Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 90/100

Round, smooth, supple Merlot with enticing aromas and flavours of fleshy black plum and blackberry on the nose and palate. Medium- to almost full-bodied. This would be a great match for grilled pork chops.

Merlot food pairings: rare roast beef, coq au vin, lamb chops.

Best Beef Wine

This Oyster Bay Merlot 2013 was reviewed on April 4, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2017  2016  2015  2014  2012 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 111310
  • $15.63 
  • 2,499 bottles
StoreStock    
HighGate Village58 Add
Fort St. John57 Add
Abbotsford52 Add
Nicola Station46 Add
39th & Cambie40 Add
See More Edit

Reviews and Ratings

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Quite possibly what a dark red sports car would taste like in a glass! Aromas of strawberry-rubard pie and hints of licorice, this spicey flavored Merlot has the right amount of acidity to make it perfect with so many dishes - savoury appetizers, meat loaf, and lamb burgers to name a few. A lingering peppery finish makes you coming back for more.
Courtney Flood rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Very seductive aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, and vanilla, however the wine still has a perfect balance of freshness to keep it from being too sweet. Lingering vanilla spice finish. A great wine for braised short rib.
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Here's a delicious Hawke's Bay Merlot with a gentle nose showing earth and a hint of violets. The palate shows blackberry jam and ripe red plums and just a hint of spice. A very smooth, velvety mouthfeel, soft tannins and a ripe red plum finish. Super with roast pork or when you just want to sip a mellow red. Aged in french oak for 6 mos.
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This medium body Merlot is a scrumptious ruby colour with aromas flavours of sour cherry,raspberry, strawberry,plum, cranberry, violets, vanilla, oak, fresh herbs, black earth. Long length on an elegant peppery finish. Medium+ acidity. Youthful tannins. A velvety smooth Merlot that is very food friendly. Sip on it's own or enjoy it tonight with roasted lamb shank and mint sauce. Decant one hour.
Tasted: November 8, 2014
Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

A soft mixture of blackberry jam and cherry flavors with notes of spice. Has a long smooth finish.
New Zealand Merlot thrives in Hawkes Bay's temperate climate and gravel soils. Pair with pork chops. - Community Wine Reviews

If you liked the Oyster Bay Merlot 2013, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Wander + Found Sparkling Wine
Sparkling CuveƩ Blanc Can

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 326,593 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,614

WINE
REVIEWS

326,593

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award