"A richly fruited Merlot, the gorgeous bouquet shows mixed berry compote, black cherry, chocolate tart, smoked game and cedar characters. The palate is concentrated and plush, delivering layers of velvety texture and ripe fruit flavours, wonderfully framed by fine tannins. At its best: now to 2020" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Mar 2018

Deep ruby colour in the glass. Intense lifted aromas of crunchy, fresh dark berry fruit and plums. The flavours of plums and dark berry fruit evident on the nose are clearly also evident on the palate, but here they are balanced by a fine, but firm tannin framework around the edges which provides a clear path of travel and focus to the wine. A hint of spice appears to provide some added interest as the soft dark fruit rolls through to the finish. Drink to 2025.

A mild, and at times cool December and January saw ideal conditions prevail towards the end of the growing season in the region. The result was a measured pace of ripening early on in harvest before some warmer weather kicked things along and compressed the harvest somewhat. The resulting wines from 2015 show some genuine balance and control from the early mild weather and some real flavour depth and presence as a result of late season warmth and ripeness.

The 2015 Merlot was sourced from high on the eastern edge of the Barossa Valley off Schild's Angus Brae and Three Springs vineyards. There, sheltered hillsides and cooling afternoon gully winds coming down from Eden Valley, temper the wrm Barossa sunshine and ensure conditions are ideal for ripening Merlot.

Harvested in the cool of the early hours, the fruit is crushed to traditional open top fermenters where a combination of soft handling techniques are used to try and obtain a balance between the plush round textural qualities so often associated with Merlot and some interet and structure from work on the soft tannins.

At Schild Estate you can still shake hands with family members from three generations who have become the family's heart. Schild Estate wines are created with authenticity and passion. From real earth in the Southern Barossa by generations of a family who have made that place their home.