Schild Estate Merlot 2011
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Schild Estate are specialists in producing premium, estate-grown Barossa reds known for their quality and character.
Schild Estate own over 134ha of estate vineyards throughout the Southern Barossa including some of the oldest vines in the world planted in 1847. Spread across 11 unique sites they produce a range of premium fruit. Having such an intimate knowledge of these site allows the winemaking and vineyard teams to achieve an absolute synergy from vineyard to winery to wine.
Under the guidance of Chief Winemaker Scott Hazeldine who works in close collaboration with Head Vigneron, Mick Schild the Schild Estate team are passionate in their belief that the best wines are driven by the unique characteristics of each vineyard which makes Schild Estate wines an authentic reflection of the terroir in the region.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Some of the oldest vines in Australia can be found here.
Barossa Valley of course is the most important and famous wine growing region in all of Australia where 140+ year-old, dry-farmed Shiraz vines still produce inky, purple and dense juice for some of Australia's best wines.
In the cooler, wetter Eden Valley sub-region, the Hill of Grace vineyard is home to famous Shiraz vines from the 1800s but the region produces also some of Australia’s very best and age-worthy Rieslings.