{"product_id":"vicars-choice-merlot-2021","title":"Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Merlot 2021","description":"\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eColour:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDark ruby red.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLifted aromas of ripe red plum with notes of spice and liquorice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBright and fruit forward in style with generous offerings of red cherry, blackcurrant and cinnamon. The palate is silky with a fine tannin structure and a long savoury finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAgeing potential:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDrinking well now this wine will continue to develop and impress for up to five years from vintage date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWinemaking and Viticulture\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemakers:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKyle Thompson \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWinemaking:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGrapes were de-stemmed into small stainless steel fermenters for a five-day cold soak to help maximise flavour and colour extraction. The juice was inoculated with specialised yeast to complete fermentation and then hand plunged and pumped over for gentle extraction of flavour colour and tannin. The young wine was kept in contact with skins and tasted daily until the right extraction and balance was achieved then gently pressed. Once settled it was then racked to seasoned French oak where it underwent secondary fermentation (malolactic fermentation).  After ageing on light lees the wine was blended, fined, balanced and carefully prepared for bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eViticulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFruit was harvested from a number of specifically chosen, naturally low cropping vineyards from both Marlborough’s Wairau Plain and the Hawke’s Bay wine growing district. The vineyards were carefully monitored as they ripened to full maturity and harvested mid-April. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWine Analysis\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWine Analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlcohol 13.5v\/v\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAcidity 5.3g\/litre\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003epH 3.67\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFood Match\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOur Food Match Recommendation:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA perfect match for beef bourguignon with sweet potato.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTasting Notes PDF\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/2021_Saint_Clair_Vicar_s_Choice_Merlot_NZ.pdf?v=1775776242\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Tasting Note Vicar's Choice Merlot 2021\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClick here to open the 2021 tasting notes as a PDF.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrevious Vintages Tasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/2022_Vicars_Choice_Merlot.pdf?v=1727910697\" title=\"2020\"\u003e2020\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/2019_Vicar_s_Choice_Merlot_b03bd95f-c1ff-431c-8405-2b1a895d8d77.pdf?v=1727910936\" title=\"2019\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2019\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e| \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/2016-Saint-Clair-Vicars-Choice-Merlot.pdf?v=1628485873\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2016\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e|\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/2015-Saint-Clair-Vicars-Choice-Merlot.pdf?v=1628485873\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2015\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e|\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/2014-Saint-Clair-Vicars-Choice-Merlot.pdf?v=1628485873\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e2014\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_column buttons vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ripe red fruits and spice with a touch of savoury oak.","offers":[{"title":"12 Bottle Case","offer_id":40172826132663,"sku":"SC 20 MER VC 12","price":216.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"6 Bottle Case","offer_id":40172826099895,"sku":"SC 20 MER VC 6","price":108.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Single Bottle","offer_id":40172826067127,"sku":"SC 20 MER VC 1","price":18.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/2855\/6471\/files\/SaintClairVicarsChoiceMerlot2021Sml_1_09b5be31-09f5-4ae9-9ea4-d66bb1733067.png?v=1778191539","url":"https:\/\/saintclair.co.nz\/products\/vicars-choice-merlot-2021","provider":"Saint Clair Family Estate","version":"1.0","type":"link"}