 |
|
Wine Details
Price:
$25.20 per bottle
Description:
Fruit for our 2002 reserve Merlot was sourced from two old-vine vineyards (vine average age >15 years) near Lake Ontario in Niagara-on-the-Lake, harvested mid-October at 21.9 ºBrix. Fruit lots were vinified separately in small 800-kg batches, utilizing the traditional method of punch-down of the cap. Three different yeast strains were used. After a short post-ferment maceration, wines were pressed off into a mixture of French and American oak barriques. Malolactic fermentation in barrel. Aged in oak for 23 months. Of the 12 barrels that are in the final cuveé, there were six French and six American barriques; four of the barrels were new oak.
|
|
Varietal Definition
Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
|
|