2021 Cabernet Merlot
In Stock
Silver Medal Winner, SavorNW Wine Awards 2024
The 2021 Cabernet Merlot is comprised 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. This medium bodied red wine has a beautiful ruby red color, vibrant ripe dark berry fruit aromas and concentrated textures from mature tannins representative of the great growing season. This wine is presently showing flavours reminiscent of blackberry, cherry, raspberry, with hints of spice, along with nuances of smoky, toasted French oak. The wine has a medium acidity that is balanced and mouth watering creating freshness on the pallet. Tannins are moderate and velvety giving a long lasting finish that will further soften with time.
This wine will age nicely 7-10 years.
Only 93 cases were produced.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2021
Varietal
Cabernet Merlot
Appellation
Okanagan Valley
Harvest Date
October 2021
Aging
7-10 years
Bottling Date
September 2023
Alcohol %
13.4
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
The grapes for this single vineyard Cabernet Merlot were grown on our River Rock Vineyard, our home vineyard, which surrounds our winery in Oliver BC. The 2021 vintage saw bud break on April 20th. We had a very dry spring with very little rain. May and June were hot with temperatures in the 30s. Late in June we had some extreme heat with temperatures in the mid to high 40’s. This extreme heat shut the plants down and effectively delayed ripening and, I believe, affected our grape set and ultimately harvest volumes which were lower than historical average yields. However, the quality at harvest was exceptional. The vines were farmed sustainably with particular care and attention to canopy and water management. Harvest decisions were based on winemaker’s personal preference with particular attention to grape maturity, tannin development, flavor, and sugar/acid balance. The grapes were harvested on October 9th. Our vineyard soils are composed of alluvial deposits of rock, sand, and gravel laid down during the last glacial recession.
Winemaker Notes
All grapes were hand picked, and destemmed then combined together. Approximately 80% of the fruit was left whole, uncrushed. The grapes were cold soaked between 3-5 days and then co-fermented together in a 4900 litre stainless steel tank. Following a temperature controlled fermentation lasting 24 days, the wine was pressed to tanks to settle then transferred to barrels where malolactic fermentation was completed. Wine was aged in French oak barrels (33% new) for approximately18 months. Following aging, final filtering, the wine was bottled, resulting in the 2021 Cabernet Merlot.