Ripe blackberry and fruitcake aromas lead to a plump and fleshy palate of ripe plum and dark berry characters. Subtle oak imparts delicate spice and additional complexity, leading to a soft velvety finish.
The fruit for the 2022 Merlot was harvested in mid-March at 14.4° baumé. The grapes were picked in the cool early morning and fermented with specially selected yeast to extract and preserve their unique flavour expression. Regular pump overs continued for about 14 days with ferment temperatures reaching a peak of 26°C. The wine underwent MLF and prolonged maturation to build structure, complexity and varietal character.
THE VINTAGE
The 2022 vintage was a challenging rollercoaster ride that included extreme weather, limited vintage staff availability and supply chain issues. Despite these challenges, the outcome has been red wines with intense flavour concentration, superb acid and tannin structure coupled with excellent fruit weight and complexity. An extremely high-quality vintage with strong aging-potential.
THE WINEMAKER
Toni Pla Bou
THE RANGE
ALPINE ROAD
The Great Alpine Road stretches across Victoria’s North-East, from the country town of Wangaratta over the Victorian Alps to the coastal settlement of Bairnsdale. The Alpine Road range of wines takes you on a similar journey. Visit a favourite place or discover an exciting new destination along a road less travelled.
