Merlot & Friends is a new wine under Michael Dhillon's Dhillon label at Bindi Wines, one of the leading names of Victoria's cool, high Macedon Ranges. Bindi's estate lies at Gisborne, while the Dhillon reds are built from Bordeaux varieties sourced beyond the home vineyards. This bottling is a Right Bank-inspired blend led by Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, made in a medium-weight, harmonious style rather than a powerful one. Farming across the sourced parcels follows Dhillon's low-intervention approach. The 2023 season is offered as a fresh, savoury, structured red intended to improve for around six years and hold for a decade beyond.

In keeping with the Dhillon label's relaxed, low-intervention philosophy, the blend was fermented on wild yeast, with the Merlot core fleshed out by the structure of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Gentle extraction and malolactic fermentation were followed by maturation in barrel, favouring fine, silky tannin and freshness over weight or heavy new oak. The result is medium-bodied and harmonious, built for cellaring. Alcohol is around 14%. Exact fermentation and oak specifics for this first release are not published, so the technique described follows the producer's stated style for the Dhillon reds rather than confirmed figures for this cuvee.