Merlot

Orange

2021

Red Wine

Merlot

750mL

13.7%

3.4

6.5

0

10 Months 15% New oak

Screw Cap

14/01/2019

March 2018

Heifer Station vineyard is situated between 860-900m elevation on the undulating slopes of Mt Canobolas. Merlot was planted in the vineyard in 1999 and makes up 3.5 Hectares of the 25 Hectares of fruit under vine.

During the growing season the vines are both shoot and bunch thinned by hand to reduce yield. The result is a quality crop of around 5- 6 tonnes per hectare. Fruit was picked very late in March and early April after a very good harvest and received at the winery in excellent condition.

The fruit is then left whole in open top fermenters where wild yeasts starts fermentation, which continues for around 18 days. During this period the fruit is punched down and pumped over daily to extract colour, tannin and more savoury elements. The wine is then split between 15% new French Oak and 85& Old French Oak barrels for a period of 10 Months.

This elegant example of Orange Merlot has a vibrant nose, carried by dried herb characters. The pallet is medium bodied, with subtle dark berry fruit. The tannins are soft and chewy and the wine will age well under ideal conditions.

Textured, savoury, bordeaux-esk

Dark plum

Vibrant plum, blackberry, violet.

The pallet is medium bodied, with subtle dark berry fruit. The tannins are soft and chewy and the wine will age well under ideal conditions.

Drink now to 10 years

Slow cooked lamb shoulder