Merlot
At SilverStone our Winemaker has chosen to use oak barrels just enough to enhance the flavors of his Merlot to without allowing the oak to dominate the varietal character. This requires careful attention to fermentation and to aging. Each wine is tasted repeatedly to determine how much of the oak has influenced the flavor. Only an experienced winemaker, tasting from barrel, can predict what the wine will be like when all of the flavors have been harmonized after the wine has been bottled and held for additional maturing in the bottle.
SilverStone varietal wines respect the special character in varietal wines which is derived from being held in oak barrels. "It's the Oak" is a promise to strike the right balance between varietal intensity - the true flavor of the grape when harvested - and the vanilla/spice flavors which derive from contact with oak. Wine in barrels is constantly changing as it matures, and the winemaker must observe each barrel individually, because each barrel is subtly different from it's neighbors in the cellars. (Just as no two trees are exactly alike, no two barrels made from oak staves are the same; each will mature the wine it contains differently from another barrel.) As always the objective of oak aging at SilverStone is to enhance varietal flavor and not to mask it; we seek to add complexity, but not to taste of oak.
Tasting Notes
Notes of raspberry, strawberry combine with the aroma of sweet oak for this medium bodied wine with a smooth and long finish.
Pairing Suggestions
A fine full-flavored Merlot, soft on teh palate with a long elegant finish. This wine will go well with lighter red meats such veal, lamb, and duck.
| ALCOHOL: |
12.5% |
| TOTAL ACIDITY: |
.64gms/100ml |
| pH: |
3.6 |
| RESIDUAL SUGAR: |
.20 |
|
