Mission Estate Vineyard Selection Hawke's Bay Merlot 2017

Mission Estate Vineyard Selection Hawke's Bay Merlot 2017This is a fine, complex Hawkes Bay Merlot. The Cabernet Franc adds another dimension and ultimately more depth and fruit sweetness. The oak is in balance and respects the wines structure and character. There is nice intensity on the front palate with very good tannins that are quite firm at bottling, but which will soften with time. The wine is harmonious, showing balance and softness. This Merlot was selected from two blocks on Mission Estates

This is a fine, complex Hawke’s Bay Merlot. The Cabernet Franc adds another dimension and ultimately more depth and fruit sweetness. The oak is in balance and respects the wine’s structure and character. There is nice intensity on the front palate with very good tannins that are quite firm at bottling, but which will soften with time. The wine is harmonious, showing balance and softness.

This Merlot was selected from two blocks on Mission Estates vineyards on the Gimblett Gravels. 86% was Merlot off our Mere road vineyard, 13% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon off our Gimblett Road block. Extensive shoot thinning was applied to the vines before flowering, then bunch thinning around veraison. This ensured light crops of mature ripe fruit. Mere Road is less stony than Gimblett and more suited to the more fleshy Merlot variety. Gimblett is ideal for Cabernet and Cabernet Franc; being very free draining which reduces the vigour of the Cabernet vines – perfect for ripe cassis and black current aromas. Merlot clone is 181, Cabernet LC10 and Cabernet franc the superior 678 clone giving superior, well balanced vines with beautiful floral aromas.

The fermentations were managed with minimal pump overs to avoid over-extracting the grapes. When the fermentations were complete there followed a period of post fermentation maceration to develop the mouth feel of the young wines. After pressing the wines underwent MLF in tank before transfer to French oak barrels for maturation. After maturation for 12 months the wine was tasted and blended before assembly then fined with egg whites.