Winemaker Shauna White shows off the 2016 Edgerock Merlot.
Winemaking:
The 2016 Edgerock Merlot was harvested with excellent flavour and when the fruit was hanging clean on the vines. We started by de-stemming 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.
Dark opaque garnet with a fuchsia hue.
Aromas:
Prunes, black currants, leather, cocoa and spice fill the glass. Blackberries, blueberries, fruitcake, graphite and vanilla continue to tantalize your nose, followed by a violet floral lift and hints of brambleberries.
Palate:
An intense and fruit driven Merlot with depth and concentration. The fruit flavours that enters your palate match the aromas on the nose: blackberries, leather, violets and toast on the forefront. A medium bodied Merlot with a textured mid-palate of toasted hazelnuts, cocoa, fruitcake and black currants.
The softly layered tannins and balanced acidity follow all the way to the med-long finish. Lingering flavours of blackberries, prunes, graphite and new leather remain on the finish. Secondary complexities persist in the background of this wine and will continue to develop and integrate
over time. Medium to full bodied wine to drink with red meats or to age in your cellar.
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