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Sandhill Cabernet Merlot 2021 VQA
Canada
Varietal: Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc
Alcohol/Vol: 14%
Size: 750ml
Cellaring Potential: 2028
Sugar Content: 0.2 g/l
VQA
Deep garnet colour with a lovely bouquet of black currant and blackberry fruit, mingling with spice box, smoke, and oak.
Harvested from Sandhill Estate and Hidden Terrace vineyards in the Okanagan Valley and Vanessa Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley this Cabernet Merlot blend features 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc. This is a full-bodied wine with firm drying tannins and good structure. Flavours of ripe black fruits, spice, oak, and vanilla extract fill the mouth. The extra-dry lingering finish shows notes of black tea, black currant, blackberry, and sweet spice, with an added note of vanilla and roasted coffee bean.
online exclusive
Special Price
$20.00
Regular Price
$22.00
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GROWING CONDITIONS – 2021 Season
The 2021 growing season began with near normal temperature and rainfall throughout April and May. Almost over-night, summer arrived with record breaking heat and drought in June and July. The extreme heat during flowering and pollination proved slightly detrimental to the vines with some fruit not setting, reducing final crop size by 20 to 25%. The northern vineyards did not experience the extreme 40˚C plus weather seen in the south, so crop was more consistent in the north. The harvest season began August 26, with the wineries being very cautious with our approach to handling the fruit, both during harvest and upon arrival at the winery. We feel positive about our fruit quality coming out of this extreme year. The first fall frost appeared October 11, Thanksgiving Day, halting photosynthesis, with the last of the grapes coming off the vines on October 21. [Osoyoos region saw 1758 GDD].
WINEMAKING
Harvested from Sandhill Estate and Hidden Terrace vineyards in the Okanagan Valley and Vanessa Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley. The grapes received a loose crush and gentle but complete extraction of the fruit. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks with daily pump-overs to break surface cap. The wines receive a full malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity. The wines are aged 14 months in (60%) American and (40%) French oak barrels (10% new oak, balance being older barrels). Each lot (varietal and vineyard) is handled separately. The final blending occurs just before bottling.
FLAVOUR PROFILE
Deep garnet colour with a lovely bouquet of black currant and dark plum fruit, mingling with spice box, smoke, and oak. This Cabernet Merlot is a full-bodied wine with soft drying tannins and good structure. Flavours of black cherry, black currant, oak, and spice fill the mouth. The extra-dry lingering finish shows notes of black tea, cocoa powder, black currant, blackberry, spicy oak, and smoke.
Food suggestions: Enjoy with two to four-year-old Canadian cheddar and Grana Padano cheese; beef tenderloin in rich red wine reduction or topped with melted blue cheese or rich melted butter; grilled red meats (medium to medium-rare); rosemary lamb chops; pot roast. Decanting is recommended if drinking now through 2024.
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