2018 Dandelion Vineyards Damsel of the Barossa Merlot

Barossa - Eden Valley Merlot

Vineyard: Sourced from our old vine Barossa vineyard, these ancient, gnarled vines are not only surviving but thriving on their own roots in some of the oldest soils on the planet.

Season: Generous late winter rains replenished the soil profile followed into Spring. Consistent warm summer days, with cool nights allowed for ideal  slow ripening. The vintage will be long remembered as an exceptional one.  

Wine making: In March grapes were handpicked, pressed and transferred to open fermenters for a further eight days. Hand plunging occurred twice per day, before basket pressing into seasoned French and American Oak Barriques. Eighteen months of maturation, the Merlot wine was bottled without filtration or fining to capture the essence of the vineyard.

Appearance: Intense crimson with youthful purple hues. 

Aroma/Bouquet: Lifted, elegant notes of blue fruits, blood and of course damson plums with a dash of Christmas pudding-like spice. All accented by hints of bramble and dark chocolate.

Palate: Lush, mouth filling sweet blackberry and plums elegantly covers the palate with nuances of sweet spice. Silky, fine tannins and dark chocolaty notes tickle throughout the lengthy palate with youthful and pretty finish.

Food Pairing: Perfectly matched with all richly flavoured foods, meats, stews, game or mature hard cheeses. Alluring on the palate, our Merlot commands company with food and friends.

Alcohol:  14.5%

pH: 3.53

Acidity:  6.2g/L

Residual Sugar:  NA

Production:  NA

Cellar potential: 8+ years

Winemaker: Elena Brooks, BSc (Oenology) Adelaide