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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Corcelettes Merlottext
90POINTS
16½/20

Corcelettes Merlot 2018

Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCorcelettes Estate Vineyard contains three separate blocks of merlot, all pushed up against a wall of Black Rock Mountain that lines the northern edge of the property. The vines are rare in that they are all self-rooted in Similkameen Stemwinder soils. Winemaker Charlie Corcelettes mixes two clones: “181 (think pipe tobacco and more leathery, masculine flavours) and clone 184, which expresses more blue and black fruits like figs and blueberries.” The fruit is tasted and selected block by block over a two-week span. The attack is lively with a mix of black and blue fruits, fragrant tobacco, and many stony, mineral, dusty notes that remind you of walking in a Similkameen vineyard. The tannins are well managed and have to be because the savoury/spicy notes are off the charts. Post-ferment, the wine is aged in a series of French and American oak barrels and French oak vats (1000L in size) for 18 months, with 25 percent new wood. Buy this one for the cellar and taste again in 2025.Tasted: 21 May 2021Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$28.99750mlwinery online, select private retailers
Producer: Corcelettes Estate WineryDistributors: BCWineshop
Grape: MerlotCSPC: 665190UPC: 626990231097