2016 Merlot
The 2016 Majella Merlot is a luscious and elegant wine showing spicy red fruit and vanilla aromas, with a nice intensity and length of dark berry fruit and subtle oak integration on the palate.
Fermentation was finished in 300 litre French oak barrels (about 30% new oak) and after MLF the wine was further aged for another 15 months in the same barrels.
A fantastically flavoured Coonawarra Merlot that adds great intensity and complexity to the Majella range.
Winner of the Peter Wehl trophy for best Merlot at the 2017 Limestone Coast Wine Show.
Aging Potential: 6 - 8 years
Winemaker: Bruce Gregory and Michael Marcus
| Variety: | 100% Merlot |
|---|---|
| Region: | Coonawarra, South Australia |
| Harvest: | Early April |
Winner of the Peter Wehl trophy for best Merlot at the 2017 Limestone Coast Wine Show.
Majella Merlot 2016
Majella Merlot was first produced in 2004. Estate grown from a single vineyard, Quarry block, it is only made in exceptional years.
Winner of the Peter Wehl trophy for best Merlot at the 2017 Limestone Coast Wine Show.
Winemaking
Fermentation was completed in 300 litre barrels and the wine was then aged for a further 15 months in French oak.
Vintage Conditions
The growing season was drier than average, and careful irrigation to
optimise flavour development worked very well. Harvest was two weeks early, the result of a warmer than average October which advanced the whole season. There was a cooler finish with mild ripening conditions.
The Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz have full palate richness whilst being medium bodied with fine tannins and excellent colour. Whites have good natural acidities this year, and show a lot of freshness and tang, with fine fruit flavours.
Another very good vintage in a run of good vintages since 2012.
Grape Variety
100% Merlot
Region
Coonawarra
Winemakers Comments
Dark damson in colour with a ruby hue. Spicy red fruit and vanilla aromas, with a nice intensity and length of red berry fruit and subtle oak integration on the palate.
| Alcohol: | 14.5% |
|---|---|
| Cellaring: | 6 - 8 years |
Our pours are 30ml: x 3 = 1 standard drink = 100ml @ 13% alcohol.
Download Tasting Note
Download Merlot Tasting Note 356.2 kb pdf