Little Engine Gold Merlot 750ml

Hand harvested and sorted in the vineyard, the Merlot grapes are destemmed only into one-ton fermenters ensuring a high proportion of whole berries. After 6-7 days of cold soak, the musts are gradually warmed up to initiate a natural or directed fermentation. Hand plunging is used to keep the cap moist and ensure colour and tannin extraction. The fermentation temperatures are maintained cool early in ferment and then elevated to aid in phenolic extraction. The total maceration time is about 3 weeks. The wines are drained and pressed off just before dryness and tank settled prior to going to barrel.

Sourced primarily from estate grown Merlot grapes at our Corbishley Vineyard, harvest dates were at the end of October based on flavour and tannin ripeness in the vineyard. Crop yield was 3 tons per acre, quite low for Merlot standards, to ensure fruit concentration.