Oldfield Reserve Merlot, 2018

The fruit for our 2017 Merlot vintage comes from the highest elevation on our Black Sage Bench Diamondback Vineyard where the berries tend to be smaller with lower yields. Fermentation are long and slow to ensure the gentle extraction of colour, tannin and flavour. The wine is matured for 18 months in French and Hungarian Oak barrels. The aroma is very vibrant with the zestyness of orange pekoe tea, black forest cake and hints of tapenade. There are some beautiful chocolate notes giving this wine a sweet aroma. The palate gives juicy black and red fruit such as currants, orange rind and licorice. Bright acidity gives this full bodied wine some great freshness and carries the finish nicely, with dense yet focused tannins. This Merlot would benefit from an hour decant before serving.