Parker Estate 2019 Terra Rossa Merlot

The fruit for this wine is sourced from our Parker Estate ‘Abbey’ vineyard; particularly, the 17 rows known as ‘Terry’s Block’.

Our ‘Abbey’ vineyard is terra rossa over a limestone soil base which consistently produces low yielding vines, resulting in fruit with intense flavour and considerable depth. The Terra Rossa Merlot is made in limited quantities, and only in those vintages that are deemed to be outstanding.

The grapes were harvested on the 3rd April using a Pellenc Selective Harvester; these state of the art harvesters not only harvest the grapes from the vine, they precisely de-stem the berries in the vineyard, therefore also macerating the fruit in preparation for fermentation.

The grapes were fermented in a 9T closed top fermenter for 9 - 12 days at a cool temperature to increase aromatic retention. Pump-overs occurred daily to avoid bitter phenolic extraction and all parcels completed malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine was then barrelled down to a combination of old and new French oak for 1 year of maturation prior to bottling.