Thorn-Clarke Sandpiper Merlot 2015
This luscious red from the award winning Thorn-Clarke winery is abundant in juicy plum flavours. Subtle spice and herbal notes add depth and complexity to the evenly balanced, mouth-filling palate. Silky tannins and a long acid line take you all the way to the end. A soft, fruity drop with teasing chocolate mint hints that will make a respectable offering for any dinner table.
The nose displays plum and red fruit characters, with a hint of vanilla and nougat oak.
12 months in tight grain French and American oak.
The palate shows ripe red-to-dark fruits with creamy vanilla oak in the background. The wine exhibits fruit-sweetness with a savoury edge to it, with round, soft tannins and good length to finish.
The grapes are crushed and de-stemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter and the ferments are pumped over twice daily to maximise colour, tannin and flavour extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferments remain in the 22-25 degrees celcius range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately seven days after crushing.