2017 Edgerock Merlot Reserve

Availability: Winery direct and select restaurant accounts

Vintage: 2017

Variety or Blend: 100% Merlot, 2.5% Appassimento

Vineyard Designation: Edgerock Vineyard

Region: Vinemount Ridge

Vine Age: 11 years

Soil: Mostly clay with limestone

Wine Style: Dry

Oak: 40% New Oak, 100% French Oak

Alcohol Content: 13.0%

PH: 3.45

TA: 5.2 g/L

Ageing: Drink now through 2027

Serving Temperature: 14 - 18 degrees Celsius

Winemaking:

The 2017 Edgerock Merlot was harvested with excellent flavour and when the fruit was hanging clean on the vines. We started by destemming all of the fruit and about 50% of the fruit is crushed, while the other 50% remains whole berry during a 5-7 day cold soak. After cold soaking, we warm up the fruit for alcoholic fermentation. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete and the tannin structure is right, we gently press each batch of wine off of the skins and pump it to a settling tank. After settling, each batch of wine is put into specially selected barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. The wine is sulphured in barrel to preserve the character and fruit and continues to age with careful monitoring for 16 months. Through tasting and blending trials, the Merlot is then taken out of barrels, when ready, and blended into tank to integrate as the final wine. This Edgerock Merlot is special selected barrels who quality and balance was above and beyond all others.  A light filtration is carried out before bottling.

Appearance:

Garnet with a terracotta hue.

Aromas:

Jammy blackberries, prunes, and plums, leather, cocoa bean and baking spice fill the glass. Underlying hints of cedar, toast and
underlying hints of coffee bean. Graphite and vanilla continue to tantalize your nose, followed by ripe black currants.

Palate:

An intense and fruit driven Merlot with depth and concentration. The fruit flavour that enters your palate match the aromas on the nose with cassis, inky notes, leather, hints of wild game and toast on the forefront. A medium bodied Merlot with a silky textured
mid-palate of softly layered tannins and balanced acidity follow all the way to the med-long finish. Lingering flavours of blackberries, prunes, graphite and cocoa bean remain on the finish. Secondary complexities persist in the background of this wine and will continue to develop and integrate over time. A medium bodied wine to drink with red meats, duck breast or to age in your cellar.