Hollick Neilson’s Block Merlot 2015 (6 Bottles) Coonawarra, SA

AUSTRALIA WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

The grapes were picked at optimum flavour and tannin development and balanced natural acidity. Once in the winery the utmost care was taken to preserve the fruit characters developed in the vineyard. The wine was then matured for a further 18 months in French oak barrels.

The Hollick Winery is flanked by the Neilson’s Block at the cool southern end of Coonawarra’s famed terra rossa strip. The 2015 Neilson’s Block Merlot is made from a selection of the best fruit from this mature high-density vineyard and is the first release of this wine since 2008.

The long, cool and dry growing season that has established Coonawarra as the pre-eminent region in Australia for Cabernet Sauvignon is also ideally suited to producing Merlot of exceptional varietal purity and depth of flavour.

An excellent start to the 2015 vintage with average winter rainfall which set us up for an even budburst with good soil moisture. Spring however was not typical, being very dry and one of Coonawarra’s warmest. Fortunately, the warm and dry flowering promoted a fast and even berry set.

Yields overall were on the moderate side due to lower bunch numbers, and as a result little bunch thinning was required at veraison, and many of the vineyards were naturally very balanced in terms of their fruit to leaf growth.

The grapes were picked at optimum flavour and tannin development and balanced natural acidity. Once in the winery the utmost care was taken to preserve the fruit characters developed in the vineyard.

The wine was then matured for a further 18 months in French oak barriques.