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2022 Pfeiffer Merlot
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A rich, full styled Merlot which displays lovely silky texture and fine long tannins. |
Description
| Availability |
NEW VINTAGE RELEASE
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| Grapes |
Merlot
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| Vintage |
2022
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| Seal |
A screw cap has been used on our 2022 Pfeiffer Merlot to maximise its flavour and freshness, and to eliminate the chances of cork taint.
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| Reviews |
Watch this space.
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| Awards |
SILVER: Rutherglen Wine Show 2023
BRONZE: Victorian Wine Show 2023
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| Fruit Sourcing |
Victoria (Rutherglen, King Valley, Great Western)
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| Harvest Date |
21st March 2022; 5th April 2022; 25th April 2022
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| Vintage |
The 2022 growing season provided plenty of viticultural challenges, with above average rainfall figures experienced throughout the Spring and summer. Flowering was very disjointed, with cold, windy and wet weather experienced throughout the very long three week flowering period, which created uneven fruit development, disease pressure, and which ultimately led to lower yields and some uneven ripening.
Summer was mild and will be remembered for two major rainfall events in January – of 70mm and 121mm here at the winery – leaving Rutherglen with its wettest January in recorded history.
These two rainfall events put a high level of disease pressure across all varieties, leading us to fruit thin and leaf pluck most of our blocks to improve air-flow and reduce the risk of moulds developing.
February and March were dotted with a couple of rain events, leaving certain varieties close to harvest susceptible to fruit breakdown. The timing of picking was critical to the overall wine quality.
Overall, the season was around 3 weeks later than usual, with the vintage starting on 23rd February with Alpine Valleys Pinot Grigio. The majority of the fruit was harvested in the second half of March and April, with the last fruit harvested on 27th April, again picking before the next rain event.
Quality is high in our white varieties, showing great flavour and plenty of natural acidity, ensuring good longevity in the bottle. The red varieties are reflective of the cooler season, showing more elegance of style, with some highlights across Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in particular.
Our viticultural efforts with our fortified varieties paid off, and despite such a challenging year in the vineyard, we have excellent quality in our Muscats, Topaque and port style wines, with our Portuguese varieties shining through with delicious flavours.
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| Winemakers Comments |
A blend of three parcels, from the family’s Sunday Creek vineyard (sandy soils on river gravel), the King Valley and Great Western. Each parcel ripened at different times, and thus was handled separately in the winery.
The first parcel from our Sunday Creek vineyard was fermented in an open vat, being hand plunged 3 times daily. It was pressed into brand new French oak puncheons to undergo malolactic fermentation. The King Valley and Great Western fruit was crushed (with 10% run off) into static fermenters for a cold soak of 2-3 days. They were fermented on skins for approximately 10 days, being pumped over twice daily, before being pressed into tank to undergo malolactic fermentation.
The individual components were matured as separate parcels for around 10 weeks before being blended for barrel maturation for another 12 months. At the end of maturation, the wine was blended from the most preferred oak barrels, fined and clarified prior to bottling in September 2023.
Our 2022 Merlot displays a lifted bouquet of violets and mulberries. The palate is full of ripe berry and cherry fruit, with hints of dried herbs. Good oak integration and a fine, long tannin finish all combine to create a textural, silky and perfectly balanced wine.
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| Try With |
Merlot is a versatile food wine and pairs well with deeply savoury flavours. Try it with Free Range Pork Chops, Portobello Mushrooms and a Merlot reduction sauce.
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| Cellar |
A delightful wine now and over ten years until 2032
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| Vegan Friendly |
Vegan No | Vegetarian Yes.
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| Yeast |
FX 10 – a red wine yeast that promotes good colour and varietal expression.
XR – A Bordeaux isolate, enhancing colour and varietal flavour in the wine.
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| Allergens |
Contains Sulphites and Egg
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| Technical Details |
Res. Sugar .44 g/l
pH 3.62
TA 5.88 g/L
Alcohol 14.6 % v/v |
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