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Merlot, 2018

Shipped and sold by Leaning Post Wines

2018 Niagara Peninsula 750 mL, 14% ALC/VOL
$45.20
Merlot

Tasting Notes

A warm vintage and good terroir have resulted in fantastic concentration and intensity, with a wonderful balance and structure. On the nose, mullberry, blackberry, black olive, crushed lilac and graphite aromas explode from the glass. Intense flavours of plum, strawberry, mocha, and prosciutto dominate, with licorice, sweet basil and green olives appearing in the background. Powerful yet soft tannins lead the way to a wonderful texture, matched only by good acidity and focus. The core-structure keeps everything together all the way through what seems like an endless finish.

Winemaking Notes

The 2018 vintage was warm throughout the growing season but was a bit tricky due to some heavy rains in the autumn. However good terroir and good vineyard practices allowing us to hang grapes and ripen them fully late into the season. Combined with intense sorting on our crush-pad, we were able to produce excellent fruit going into our fermenters. Picked on October 16, the grapes were destemmed, crushed and left to soak on skins for 5 days prior to fermentation. The fermentation started spontaneously in small open-top fermenters. During fermentation, the skins were punched-down by hand 2 times per day. Once fermentation was finished, the wine remained on skins for 6 days before being gently pressed. It was then transferred to (80%) French and (20%) American oak barrels (40% new, 20% 1-year-old, 40% 4+ year-old) and aged for 21 months. The 2018 Merlot was bottled on September 4, 2020.

  • National Wine Awards of Canada 2022, Bronze Medal National Wine Awards of Canada 2022, Bronze Medal
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    The 2018 vintage was a featured wine in May 2023's Wine Club package.

    Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Lakeshore
    Residual Sugar: 3.5 g/L
    Cases Produced: 145

    Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Ruby red core.
    Nose: Lifted aromas of cherry, blackberry, savoury green herbs, black pepper, and a hint of menthol.
    Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Bold flavours of black raspberry, cassis, green pepper, licorice, and pepper spice. Well-balanced with grippy tannins and a long finish.
    Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.

    Food Pairing: Cast iron ribeye steak with garlic mushrooms, parmesan and sage pork cutlets with spiced tomato relish, honey sriracha chicken, roasted eggplant puttanesca on a bed of spaghetti squash, and rosemary potatoes with prosciutto.

    • National Wine Awards of Canada 2022, Bronze Medal