Leone 2019 Merlot Barossa Valley

Colour: A deep colour with youthful & vibrant purple hues
Aroma: Forest berries & red fruits, blueberry, cherry and plum are abundant.
Palate: A youthful and generous Merlot example from a great 2017 vintage. Merlot is famous for its plump fruit and often used in blending – but this one has character fit for a single varietal release. The palate is fresh with lashings of fruit and herbal nuances. The tannins are soft giving a round mouthfeel and accentuating the youthful fruits. Wine The 2017 vintage provided an abundant growing season and produced outstanding fruit quality. The wine is a rich wine with sweet fruit, oak and palate length. This wine can be enjoyed with beef cheek ravioli or feta & mint crumbed rack of lamb. Alternatively it can be drunk on any occasion and with correct cellaring can be enjoyed for many years – Cellar for 5-8 years.
Winemaking: The grapes for this wine are grown on the Estate vineyards in the Barossa Valley. Single wire trellising, low cropping level and an ideal ripening season allowed the grapes to mature to their optimum ripeness. Barrel matured in seasoned for a short time in seasoned American oak to emphasise varietal character and fleshy/ plump fruit characters and mouthfeel. Fermented at 25 – 28c in open vats to increases the oxygen contact during fermentation. Optimum skin contact defines the soft tannins and gives structure on the palate.