Our 2007 Merlot Estate was sourced from our vineyards in the Curicó Valley, where the deep silty-sandy soils are moderately to highly vigorous. Winters are cold and rainy, and the long, dry growing season features frequent morning fog followed by warm to very warm afternoons and cool nights.
This combination delays ripening and encourages intense flavours and a good concentration in the grapes. The Curicó Valley has ideal conditions for allowing the grapes to develop distinctive primary flavour profiles that add interesting fruit intensity to the blends. The vineyards are vertically positioned and spur pruned, and equipped with modern irrigation methods.

Although the 2006-2007 season began with normal temperatures, they dropped to slightly lower than normal between October and December, which did not affect vine growth. An unexpected 50 mm (2 in) October rainfall in Curicó complicated flowering and resulted in lower yields.
The January through April maturation period was colder than in a normal year, which slowed the ripening. The combination of low temperatures, slow ripening, and low yields helped the grapes achieve good character, high quality tannins, and excellent acidity.

The grapes were hand picked from March through mid-April and transported to the winery in bins, where they were gently crushed into stainless steel tanks. Approximately 30% of the grapes underwent a 3-5 day cold soak at 10ºC (50°F) for extra colour and fruit flavour extraction. Alcoholic fermentation took place at 26-30°C (79-86°F) with 2 pumpovers per day.
Post-fermentation maceration times depended upon the development of the individual lots and ranged from 12 to as many as 25 days of extended skin contact. Half of the wine was aged for approximately 6 to 8 months in 1–3-year old French and American oak barrels to help round out the wine and contribute to a sweet mouthfeel. Once the final blend was made, the wine was cold settled and lightly filtered before bottling.

Bright cherry red in colour, the nose boasts and interesting combination of black and red fruits with spice. Cherries and blackberries blend with notes of black pepper, cloves, and a light touch of smoke. Medium bodied on the palate, with gripping tannins and good structure. Toast and fruit combine with refreshing acidity for a delightful, soft-textured wine with a pleasing finish.