Wine Makers Select Merlot 2019, Gold Hill Winery

Merlot does very well in the south Okanagan, expressing excellent structure from phenologically developed tannins with bright acidity. The resulting wine is fragrant and lush with notes of dried herbs, and dried cranberries. Bright red berries segue to lush, dried sage, Okanagan cherries and savoury characteristics.  Aged for 18 months in barrel and then bottle-aged for another 4 years, this wine is ready to drink. Sensuous and luxurious, enjoy now or cellar until 2035. Gold Hill family would like to introduce to you a special selection of the 2019 Merlot exclusive to our wine club members. While our classic 2019 Merlot was bottled early to capture the vibrant, fruit-forward elegance of the vintage, this exclusive Club Selection represents the "best of the best" from our cellar barrel aging program. During the maturation process, our winemaker, Val Tait hand-selected four of our standout barrels that exhibited superior depth, power, and a more complex tannic structure, allowing them an extended period of refinement to achieve a truly velvety mouthfeel. While both wines share the same high-quality DNA, this reserve lot is defined by its concentrated dark fruit, savory spice, and a voluminous finish that distinguishes it from its counterpart. Finished with a traditional cork and hand-dipped wax seal to ensure graceful long-term aging, this rare bottling is a sophisticated "symphony" of our terroir, reserved strictly for our loyal members. Opening your wax-sealed Merlot is a simple, elegant ritual that requires no chipping or scraping with a knife. Simply pierce the center of the wax directly with your corkscrew and pull as usual; the specialized wax is designed to detach cleanly as the cork emerges. For the best experience, wipe away any stray flakes before pouring and decant for 30–45 minutes to let this concentrated selection fully breathe.