2005 Pooley Family Reserve Merlot

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Pooley Family Reserve Merlot is made from 100 percent estate-grown Merlot from our Cooinda Vale vineyard at Campania in the Coal River Valley. The site, with its warm summer months, lends itself well to ripening this variety of grape. 2005 Pooley Family Reserve Merlot had limited production. Only 300 bottles were produced and they are only available through the cellar door or by mail order.

These vines are more than 12 years old and are well established. The variety is difficult to grow. A balanced vine produces finer quality fruit, with the emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Good wine is made, first and foremost, in the vineyard. The fruit is harvested by hand in mid-May, when the fruit flavours and acids are balanced.

This vintage is our best in all the time that Matthew Pooley, our chief winemaker, has been on the job. He has done a great job getting this ever-popular variety to such a high quality.

A well-rounded, generous wine.

Winemaking Notes

This wine was fermented dry in small fermenting tanks, hand-plunged daily, left on skins for seven days post-ferment, basket-pressed and then matured in new French oak barrique for approximately five months before being aged in old oak for a further two years before bottling.

Wine Characteristics

Colour	Inky red.
Nose	Quite fragrant, spicy plum, blackcurrant aromas.
Palate	A lighter style but has good depth of fruit, with hints of spice and gentle tannins. A developing wine with a reasonable depth. Very approachable, with full mouthfeel and good length.
The Grape	The grapes are estate-grown from our cool climate vineyard at Campania in the Coal River Valley of southern Tasmania. Special care is taken to develop and maximize the potential of the fruit for its quality requirements.
Alc/vol	13.5%
Cellaring	Very pleasant now but it will be interesting in the next couple of years, if you can resist.
Serve With	Perfectly suited to pork, red meats and game.
Price	$35.00 per bottle