Oxford Landing South Australia Merlot 2023 (Australia)

Description

Chocolate, Raspberry, Spice

Maroon in colour with purple hues. Aromas of chocolate, plum and bright red berries with subtle cedar and spices. A medium-bodied wine with vibrant flavours of plums and red cherry. Although tightly structured, the finish is rich and generous with persistent fruit flavours. Soft, velvety tannins are a feature of the supple palate.

Above average winter and spring rains filled up the soils. The cool, wet weather meant that the vines were in no hurry to grow, with budburst about three weeks later than average. Mild conditions continued through summer and into autumn. This long, cool ripening was perfect for flavour development and acidity retention, resulting in classic varietal flavours.

Fermentation was carried out in a combination of static and rotary fermenters under warm temperature conditions for six days. This creates balance between extracting the appropriate tannins for wine structure, and retaining fruit flavour and aromatics.

Food Pairing: Roast lamb with caramelised roast vegetables or Moroccan
spiced curry would be a lovely accompaniment.