2020 Merlot
TASTING NOTES
Chocolate, figs and dark cherries and vanilla jump out of the glass. Well balanced and rounded on the palate, the red fruit journey continues with added baking spices and a subtle orange peel note.
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VINTAGE REVIEW
It started out not unusually with slightly delayed bud break due to a cool spring, followed by a mild and wet June leading to exponential growth in the vineyard and a lush canopy. Temperatures and rainfall evened out to averages in July and we were seeing great fruit development. Harvest arrived on time and started with those beautiful golden clusters of Chardonnay on September 28, 2020. Our Winemaker, Gabriel & Winemaking Consultant, Alain both described the vintage as fantastic due to the smaller berry size and particularly low yields leading to ripe, beautifully balanced wines. With bright acidity and ripe fruit, the 2020 vintage will cellar beautifully for years to come.
WINEMAKING
Harvest of our four estate vineyard blocks of Merlot began on October 14, 2020. Blocks were harvested individually, broken into small batches, cold soaked on the skins for 4 days and fermented for an additional 21 days on the skins in tank with twice daily pump overs. The resulting individual wines were aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak and blended prior to being bottled, unfiltered.
| Vintage: | 2020 |
| Alcohol %: | 14.9 |
| Titratable Acidity: | 6.3 g/L |
| Residual Sugar: | 1.9 g/L |
| PH: | 3.61 |
REVIEWS
93 Points - "The wine begins with aromas of cherry, blueberry and chocolate, leading to flavours of black currant, cherry and spice. The finish persists." John Schreiner
Awards for past vintages:
2019 Merlot - Gold Medal, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2019 Merlot - 93 Points, John Schreiner
2019 Merlot - 93 Points, Anthony Gismondi, Vancouver Sun
2018 Merlot - 92 Points, David Lawrason, WineAlign
2018 Merlot - 92 Points, Anthony Gismondi, Vancouver Sun
2018 Merlot - 92 Points, Christopher Waters, The Globe & Mail
2017 Merlot - Top 10 Merlot's in Canada - WineAlign's Guide to Canada's Best Wines
2016 Merlot - 92 Points, David Lawrason, WineAlign
2015 Merlot - Gold Medal, Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada 2019
2014 Merlot - Silver Medal, InterVin International Wine Awards
2013 Merlot - Silver Medal, Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada 2017
2012 Merlot - Silver Medal, 2014 BC Wine Awards
2007 Merlot - Best of Varietal & Gold Medal, 2010 BC Wine Awards
Media for past vintages:
2015 Merlot - 95 Points, John Schreiner
2013 Merlot – King of Sweden tries Painted Rock Merlot: National Post
2013 Merlot - "I really enjoyed this Merlot tasted in a lineup against several other locals..." Anthony Gismondi, 91 Points The Vancouver Sun
2012 Merlot: 16.5 Points awarded by Richard Hemming: www.jancisrobinson.com
