Mills Reef Reserve Merlot - Wine - Red-Merlot : Waipu Liquor Centre - Mills Reef

The grapes for this generous wine were grown in alluvial soils in the prestigious Bridge Pa Winegrowing District, on low yielding vines. The 2019 season begun with a hot dry summer which continued through into autumn. This enabled the single vineyard fruit to be picked at optimum ripeness and flavour profile. Harvesting occurred on April 3rd.

The grapes were gently crushed, allowing some whole berries to remain intact, with the resulting must then transferred into open-top and closed-top fermenters for a 4-day cold soak. Fermentation proceeded with twice-daily aerated pump over of the cap for colour, flavour and fine tannin extraction. The resulting wine was racked once and aged for 14 months in quality French oak barriques (30% new wood). The finished settled wine completed élevage in excellent balance and condition, allowing a light fining in order to retain maximum quality, complexity and intensity. Bottling took place September 7th under screwcap closure.

This full bodi...