Mount
Cathedral Vineyards
2004 RESERVE MERLOT
Introduction
Mount Cathedral Vineyards Reserve Merlot is a wine like few others to be found in Australia. We at Mount Cathedral Vineyards are able to produce single varietal Merlot that is an absolute stand out and can do so year after year due to our particular vineyard site and conditions and our unique viticulture and winemaking. Our Reserve Merlot is a wine that commands attention and consistently draws admiration.
Hand pruned, hand picked and wines hand crafted with the attention that only a small, dedicated producer can provide. No pesticides are used and no systemic chemicals are used on our vines. At harvest the fruit is hand picked into small picking baskets and immediately processed in our winery in a basket press. The red wines are fermented in small one tonne open fermenters where they are hand plunged until dryness. The wine is then racked to French oak barriques, where malo-lactic fermentation is induced. The red wines are matured in these French oak barriques for 18 to 22 months. The wines are racked 4 times during this maturation period and are only given a light filtration prior to bottling. Throughout these processes the wines are moved from vessel to vessel gently via gravity feed. Pumps are only used at bottling stage.
Tasting notes
Dark plum red in colour. An aroma of plums, cherries, cloves, mushrooms, asparagus, vanilla and earthy characters.
On the palate, again plums with coffee undertones. Silky tannins with magnificent length of flavour finishing in a tart black olive twist. Enjoy with Osso Bucco, Venison or pot roasted game.
Vintage comments
2004 is considered a difficult year in Victorian viticulture because of the onset of early Autumn rains which spoiled the production of many later ripening red varieties. However, our Merlot grapes were picked just in time. Just as the final load of fruit arrived in the winery for processing, the heavens opened up and delivered what was to be a drought relieving burst of water to this parched land.
Technical Details
Variety
Vintage
Winemaker
Growing Region
Grape Variety
Alcohol
Acidity
Residual Sugar
Maturation
Cellaring |
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Reserve Merlot
2004
Oscar Rosa and Nick Arena
Upper Goulburn
100% Merlot
14.0%
TA 8.1g/L
Dry
24 months in 50% new and 50% seasoned French oak barriques
Up to 15 years |
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James Hallidays 2009 Wine Companion
FIVE GLASSES- 94/100
"Excellent example of the variety, full of life and thrust to the mix of cassis, olive and spice; fine tannins on a lingering finish. To 2017."
James Halliday |
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