Merlot 2015 3L

Member Price $140.79
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Wine Specs
Vintage
2015
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Okanagan Valley
Harvest Date
October 12, 2015
Sugar
0.02g/l
Acid
6.3
pH
3.72
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Supple and well-structured, with dark fruits, espresso, and spice
flavours that glide toward refined tannins.
Vineyard Notes
The weather in the Okanagan was favourable for most of the 2015 season, beginning with an early, mild spring. Budburst was early by two weeks and the continuing mild weather trend coincided with flowering and excellent fruit set in May and June. A hot, dry summer tested our vineyard crews who had to pay careful attention to irrigation regimes and leaf-to-fruit ratios. Once again, meticulous farming and investment of time, energy and money has assured wine quality.
By the time the harvest commenced the season had recorded enough warm, sunny days to top the long-term average heat summation levels. In September temperatures cooled to near normal, especially at night, and rain mostly stayed away providing a long and unpressured harvest period which continued into the first couple of weeks of October. According to winemaker, Stefan Arnason, “We only lost one day of picking due to rain, allowing us to pick exactly when we wanted based on flavour.” Overall, the extended harvest period allowed for uniform ripening and a very nice end to the season as harvest wound down by mid-October.
Production Notes
88% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec
Winemaker Notes
Berries were hand-picked and sorted prior to crushing, then cold-soaked for four days. Alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks, breaking and soaking the cap through twice daily pump-overs. Long post-alcoholic maceration of the submerged caps for a further 14 days before pressing into barrels.
Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel over the winter & finished in the spring of 2016. 21 months in a combination of 1 to 3-year-old French oak - barriques and bottle aged for one year.
Other Notes
The 2015 Merlot will develop for well over a decade. Drink now through 2028.