Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Merlot 2019

Description

• French oak
• Blackberry
• Leather
• Soft tannins

This Merlot presents lifted aromas of blackberry and plum with overlying savoury toasty notes present from barrel maturation. It is full in flavour, with a soft tannin structure, and flavours of dark berries and leather.

Stoneleigh Vineyard is situated in the heart of the Rapaura area on the northern side of the Wairau valley in Marlborough, New Zealand. Within 2km of the Wairau River and the Richmond Ranges, our home lies within an area known locally as the ‘Golden Mile’ of vineyards. As evidence of an ancient riverbed, Stoneleigh takes its name from the stones that cover our vineyard – land that’s now home to some of the oldest grafted Sauvignon Blanc blocks in Marlborough. The stones store and reflect the sun’s heat up into the vines, enhancing the ripening process and contributing to the unique taste of Stoneleigh wines.

Made from grapes sourced from the ‘Golden Mile’, a strip of land covered with ancient sunstones and highly regarded for its outstanding grape-growing conditions. The resulting wines are aromatically lifted and riper in spectrum, a result of higher concentration of the stones inthe area and the effect these have on the vines. 100% barrel aged in approximately 40% new French oak for 9-10 months.

Food Pairing: This is a deep and brooding red that could be enjoyed as an accompaniment to succulent rich red meat dishes such as spring lamb, wild game, and roast beef served with dark sauces.