Bodega Merlot 2017 (12 x 750mL) Margaret River, WA

Vintage

2017 vintage started late, two to three weeks later than the preceding couple of years. The reason for this was the mild, cool spring weather experienced all across the southern part of the state. During the middle and latter part of March the South-West region including Margaret River experienced a very unusual amount of rain and very cool weather, ripening over this period was very slow. The first suggestions of worry started to appear in growers eyes. Of recent history Margaret River has experienced very dry conditions in March and early April with the season breaking mid to late April, not a problem with all the grapes picked. But this year the concern was that if the season broke in mid April all the red grapes would be still on the vine. However anyone that lived though the late April and early May in the South-West of Western Australia will testify that never had we had a better, warmer early autumn. It was simply perfect; cool crisp mornings and evenings but beautiful warm and sunny days; not too hot, textbook conditions for great ripening especially for the red varieties.

Winemaking

Grapes were harvested at optium ripeness. Fermentation in open topped vessels with traditional pump over cap management has produced a wine with loads of fruit flavours and soft tannins providing structure without astringency. Maturation in French oak barriques for 10 months adds further complexity and structure without dominating the fruit.