The 2020 Single Barrel Merlot exhibits a deep garnet core, signaling lovely maturity and time in the bottle. The nose is highly evocative, showcasing ripe black plum, dark cherry, and stewed berries, beautifully layered with tertiary notes of leather, pipe tobacco, and dried cedar, all integrated with a subtle vanilla spice from the single-barrel aging. Medium-full bodied, the palate offers a velvety texture, featuring concentrated yet soft fruit. The tannins are fully resolved and polished, leading to a smooth, elegant mouthfeel, with notes of dark chocolate and earthy loam emerging on the mid-palate. A classic, well-integrated Merlot, approachable now but with many years of life ahead.
WINEMAKING
The 2020 Single Barrel Merlot was our first pick under the Steels Gate brand, 100% hand-harvested on 30 March 2020. Grapes were de-stemmed with 10% whole berries retained to enhance mid-palate texture. Fermentation occurred in open-top fermenters (Inoculated). The wine was pressed off after 14 days and transferred directly to a single, new French oak barrique. Matured for approximately 11 months before being bottled by gravity on 05 March 2021.
Melba Block
Situated at 150m above sea level, planted in the early 1980s. Similar to the Homeblock, the Melba block vines are all cared for by hand, 100% cane pruned to ensure best quality fruit is grown and hand harvested.
Alcohol
12.4%
Additional Notes
Production: 24 cases (approx. 29 doz)
Oak Regime: 100% New French Oak (Single Barrique)
Alcohol: 12.4%
GLU/FRU: 0.05 g/l
Malic Acid: < 0.05 g/l (Malic Dry)
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Situated at 230m above sea level was planted in the late 1970’s on an undulating slope on friable grey loam soils. Completely non irrigated and hand nurtured, surrounded by National Park. The vines are cared for by hand and the grapes carefully hand picked at the perfect harvest time. This 6+ acres comprises of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
Steels Gate Melba Block Vineyard
Situated at 150m above sea level was planted in the early 1980s. Similar to the Homeblock, the Melba vines are all cared for by hand, 100% cane pruned to ensure best quality fruit is grown and hand harvested.
Nagambie Vineyard
Nagambie Vineyard is a partnership with a family estate located in the picturesque Nagambie region. Still cool climate, this region produces lovely medium bodies reds and some lovely Rieslings and other similar white varieties.
