Merlot First Growth 2016

VINTAGE & VITICULTURE

This fruit was hand-harvested from our Merlot vineyard block planted 1989 and thinned to a restricted 2 tonnes per acre. Clean ripe fruit was hand harvested and delivered to the winery minutes after harvesting.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

The grapes were gentle crushed and destemmed. A selected yeast culture was added to begin the fermentation quickly. After fermentation was complete the wine moved into new French Oak barrels where the wine completed malolactic and aged for 30 months. The wine remains unfiltered.

TASTING NOTES

Blackberry fruit aromas and a pleasing flinty bouquet. Soft, silky tannins and a luscious mouth-feel give this wine an intimate silky richness and warmth.  Enjoy with slow roasted Prime Rib, oven roasted vegetables and wild mushrooms.

RESIDUAL SUGAR:3g/L

ALCOHOL/VOLUME:14.5%

BRIX AT HARVEST:23

TOTAL ACIDITY:6.5g/L

AGING IN OAK:30 months

RELEASE DATE:November 1, 2019

AGEABILITY:7-10

SCORE 93/100 "A stunning Niagara Merlot that's richly textured and beautifully textured. Aromas of fleshy ripe, dark plums and smoke. Pair with grilled pork chops."

Natalie Maclean