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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Bartier Bros. Merlot Cerqueira Vineyardtext
89POINTS
16¼/20

Bartier Bros. Merlot Cerqueira Vineyard 2018

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Bartier Merlot comes off the estate Cerqueira Vineyard along the Black Sage Terrace, south of Oliver. The vineyard has a gentle west-facing slope of dense loam topsoil above gravel with calcium carbonate covered granite, quartz, and basalt cobbles throughout the profile. The density of this merlot is always impressive. Creamy and silky, the difference is in the ageing, namely fourteen weeks in neutral French oak barrels. The wood encourages a healthy oxygen exchange without any oak interfering with the naturally dry, savoury, desert blue fruits. Love the mineral notes and salt that cleans up the finish. These wines like about five years in bottle before they reach their zenith, but the balance would suggest it can go a decade and beyond. Perfect now with your favourite steak cuts. Super value. Real wine.Tasted: 21 December 2019Tasted by: Prices:
BC$22.99750mlBCLS
AB$21.99750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: Bartier Bros.Distributors: Stile Brands
Grape: MerlotCSPC: 225706UPC: 628055147114