2005 Stephanies Dream Merlot

Tasting Notes

This wine is no mere mortal Merlot. It is deep dark and concentrated. It shows ripe blood plums, liquorice, dusty earthy overtones and soft savoury tannins supported by abundant acidity.

Food Suggestions: Match it with game meat like venison or kangaroo.

Harvest Details Vinification Details Bottling Details Buy Now

Harvest Details
Grapes were grown on our cool elevated site near Whittlesea. After rain in early March, the 2005 autumn provided weeks of consistent sunny, mild days allowing ideal slow steady ripening. These conditions ensured full ripeness of the grapes and pips, great concentration of colour and the full retention of merlot's varietal character and perfume. To maximise quality an initial harvest of any bunches which were not perfect was undertaken and held separately before a second harvest of grapes in ideal condition was made. Only grapes from the second harvest was used in this wine.
Variety	88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest Date	2nd May 2005
Yield	2.8 t/a
Beaume	13.6
Total Acid	4.7 g/l
pH	3.68

Vinification Details
Whole berry vinification late in the cool part of the season with Natural yeast allowed a slow and very cool ferment which helped retain all of the perfume and elegance of the grapes. The extended maceration ensured great extraction of colour and flavour from the skins and wonderful extraction of fully ripe tannin from the pips which has provided this wine with a serious backbone and ageing potential. Extended barrel maturation for 22 months has seen the oak seamlessly integrated with the fruit and tannin.
Fermentation	Fermentation was 100% in Open Wood Fermenters with whole berry maceration for 35 days
Yeasts	100 % Natural
Oak Treatment	Aged in 25% new oak for 22 months
New Oak	European Blend
Coopers	Bossuet
Filtration	Nil

Bottling Details
Bottling Date	5th June 2007
Total Production	190 Cases
Alcohol	14%
pH	3.31
Total Acid	7 g/l