Fog Mountain Merlot 2022

This has lifted aromas of black cherry and spice on the nose. Flavours of strawberry and clove with earthy notes are complemented by a touch of violet. The palate is medium-bodied with soft, round tannins.

The grapes underwent a cold soak lasting roughly two days. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks followed by around two weeks on skins, which resulted in further structure and tannins. The wine was predominantly aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh, primary fruit aromas. A small portion was aged in neutral French oak barrels for 12-14 months before bottling, to round out the tannins.

The 2022 will be remembered as one resulting in excellent quality fruit. After years of drought, substantial winter rain developed excellent water reserves. This was essential through the warm and dry spring. Summer saw some extreme heat, however was followed by mid-September rains, providing much needed relief for the fruit and extending the ripening period. As the grapes had extra time on the vine, concentrated flavours developed which resulted in wines with excellent structure.