McGuigan Reserve Merlot 2018 (Australia)

McGuigan Reserve Merlot 2018 (Australia)"Fruit expressive and comforting, the wine shows Black Doris plum, blueberry, floral and subtle cedar characters on the nose. It is succulent and supple on the palate with lovely mid palate weight and fruit intensity, finishing silky and lingering. At its best: now to 2023" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2019 This wine displays aromas of ripe plum and blackberries, with hints of white pepper and spice. On the palate there are upfront fruits of berries and

"Fruit expressive and comforting, the wine shows Black Doris plum, blueberry, floral and subtle cedar characters on the nose. It is succulent and supple on the palate with lovely mid-palate weight and fruit intensity, finishing silky and lingering. At its best: now to 2023" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2019

This wine displays aromas of ripe plum and blackberries, with hints of white pepper and spice. On the palate there are upfront fruits of berries and plums followed by well integrated spicy oak. Soft tannins ensure a smooth lingering finish.

The fruit was machine harvested and selected from vineyards in the Limestone Coast and Mount Benson regions. Conditions for vintage were ideal, yields were good and the fruit was in excellent condition. The climate is hot with high evaporation rates and generally low rainfall, making irrigation essential. The climate is also continental, resulting in long sunny days and noticeably cooler nights. Modern viticultural and winemaking techniques mean that the climate can be seen as one of the region's strengths. Long sunshine hours ensure fruit ripens fully and low relative humidity results in little incidence of disease.

The fruit was crushed and de-stemmed to varying sizes and styles of red fermenters where the fruit was fermented on oak at cooler temperatures of 18 – 22oC for 5 – 7 days. Fermenting at cooler temperatures allows the fruit flavours to be nurtured and enables retention of varietal characteristics. Post fermentation the majority of the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks.

McGuigan Reserve was created to celebrate the craft of varietal blending. Premium fruit from South Australia’s finest wine regions is selected before being expertly blended to create an exciting synergy; varietal blends that showcase the full flavour and rich diversity found in Australia’s most celebrated winemaking state.