Merlot Cabernet 2020
Main Divide is the local name for the Southern Alps and is the backbone of the South Island, where grapes for Main Divide are exclusively sourced. Vineyards have been selected for their quality and ability to express unique regional flavours.
The Season
Settled weather over flowering provided a healthy fruit set, which was then thinned back to desired levels. The ensuing summer was dry with very little rain, resulting in perfectly ripened small berries full of intense flavour and concentration. Thankfully, our harvest was able to proceed during the C-19 lockdown, and an unbroken autumn full of warm days meant the fruit was picked at its optimum ripeness.
The Harvest and Winemaking
This wine is made in the same style as the celebrated Claret from Bordeaux, using traditional methods. After being picked in April, the grapes began fermentation naturally in stainless steel tanks. During this process the juice was regularly pumped over the cap of floating grape skins (rather than plunging), to ensure a perfect tannin balance was extracted from the fruit. The wine was then gently pressed off and put into French oak barriques. The following summer, when the weather warmed, it underwent a natural malo-lactic (secondary) fermentation. After maturing in oak for 12 months, the various batches were then carefully blended to produce the most complex and balanced wine possible. The finished product is approximately 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon..
The Wine
On release it has a vibrant garnet tint. The nose is fruit-driven and spicy, brimming with aromas of dark cherry, blackberry and plum, supported by a savoury underlay of field mushroom, black olive, and liquorice, with flecks of tobacco leaf and a whisp of cinnamon. The mouthfeel is textured yet plush, with ripe tannins and a supple body balanced by a seam of refreshing acidity that gives the wine a sustained and invigorating finish. This classic marriage of Bordeaux varieties from a fabulous season has produced a wine that is both rich and juicy in the mid-palate, with a backbone of acid and tannins that offer outstanding structure and length.
| Harvest Date | AV Brix at Harvest | Alcohol Content | R.S. | T.A. | Aging Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th - 17th April 2020 | 24 | 13% | Dry | 5.1 g/l | 6-8 years |
