Tasting note
Juicy, rounded Merlot with a spicy nose, sweet with cinnamon and freshened by liquorice and a pleasant mouthful of red and black berries.
Viticulture
Sourced from established vines which were planted in 1988 in Hutton soils (decomposed granite) at a density of 3200 vines per ha. Vineyard practices include vertical hedge trellising, spur pruning to 2 buds every 12cms and supplementary drip irrigation. Harvesting was by hand from 19th February to 11th March and yielded 7t/ha.
Vinification
The whole bunches were de-stalked, hand sorted and crushed into stainless steel tanks where fermentation took place at 28 degrees C with pump overs for 6 days and a further 5 days maceration followed by 100% malo-lactic fermentation and pressing into 30% new French barriques where ageing was for 20 months before bottling.
Food Match
This lighter and more elegant style of Merlot is ideal with more delicate game dishes or with lamb.