Yealands Hawke's Bay Merlot 2017

Description

Concentrated notes of plum, dark berries and underlying cassis. The palate is soft with finely balanced supple tannins and a rich lingering finish. Enjoy now, or cellar up to 3 - 4 years.

2017 was a vintage like no other in Hawke’s Bay. A moderate spring was followed by a dry summer and an unseasonal period of rain in early April. All fruit was harvested before the untimely rain events. The vines are trained to VSP and underwent intensive canopy management and thinning which resulted in a complex, elegant and fresh wine.

The low yielding Merlot was harvested and de-stemmed directly into a mixture of open and closed fermenters. A traditional warm fermentation followed with regular pump overs to help craft a wine with elegance and balance. The fruit remained on skins after fermentation to build structure and mouthfeel, it was then gently pressed, settled and racked to stainless steel tanks to undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine spent the winter months aging with French oak before the blend was assembled, filtered and bottled.

Yealands wine is inspired by the coast that surrounds them, so close to the ocean that the vines are often misted with sea spray. The beauty of this environment influences how they craft wine, respectful of nature and the land. Yealands believes in sustainable winemaking and creating thoughtfully crafted wines that work in harmony with their landscape.

Food Pairing: Enjoy with barbequed red meats, hearty stews or dark chocolate.

Suitable for vegetarians, vegans and a gluten free diet.