2013 Hanwood Estate Merlot

2013 Hanwood Merlot Vintage Conditions: Warm conditions were present for the majority of the growing season meaning that the fruit was harvested a week earlier than the average harvest date. This resulted in no disease issues present allowing ideal picking conditions and pristine fruit being delivered to the winery from fruit in Hanwood and Hilltops at it’s optimum maturity and maximum flavour and maximum flavor level. Colour: Youthful, crimson red with hints of purple hues Aroma: Ripe plum and forest berry fruits are combined with mocha, vanilla oak characters. Palate: A fruit driven wine with dark forest berries, currants and plums and a hint of dried herb balanced with background cedar, vanilla oak. The palate is fresh and lively with smooth supple tannins helping to integrate the wine’s structure into a round, soft and approachable wine at such a young age. Vinification and Maturation: The grapes are crushed quickly and pumped into fermenters, over a period of 6 days on skins which allows for great colour and tannin extraction. After pressing the wine it was then matured in stainless steel and with a mixture of one to three year old French and American oak for up to nine months. Then all the different blend components were blended together to ensure the right balance of fruit and oak characteristics, it was then lightly fined and then bottled. Wine Analysis: Alc: 14%

pH:3.44

TA: 5.75 g/L

Peak Drinking: Enjoy now and up to 4 years with careful cellaring.