Merlot Barrique Reserve Soljans Estate 1998
The 1998 Merlot Barrique Reserve is a red wine produced by Soljans Estate. Established in 1937, Soljans Estate is recognized as one of West Auckland's premier boutique wineries, focusing on the production of hand-crafted wines. This particular vintage originates from the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand.
The wine is crafted from Merlot, a classic blue grape variety that is traditionally cultivated in prominent wine regions such as Bordeaux, California, Washington, and Northern Italy. As part of its Barrique Reserve classification, the production process for this wine included an aging period of 20 months in oak barrels. It was bottled with an alcohol content of 12.5 percent.
The history of the wine
Below, you can delve into the history of this wine — its producer, grape, area, and region.
Hawkes Bay
Hawke's Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island and is the country's oldest as well as second largest wine region. The area is characterized by a warm, maritime climate with many hours of sunshine and a long growing season, which is protected by inland mountain ranges. The geography offers a great diversity of soils, ranging from coastal silt soils and limestone hills to river valleys and the famous alluvial gravel deposits, including the renowned sub-region Gimblett Gravels.
The region's wine history stretches back to 1851, when French Marist missionaries planted the first vines. Since then, Hawke's Bay has developed into one of New Zealand's most significant areas for wine production. In contrast to many of the country's cooler regions, the warmer climate here provides optimal conditions for ripening grapes that require more heat.
The wine tradition in Hawke's Bay is especially centered around the production of red wines and full-bodied white wines. The region is widely recognized as New Zealand's center for Bordeaux-inspired wines, where grape varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon play a main role. In addition, the area has achieved great recognition for its wines based on Syrah as well as white wines made from Chardonnay.
When this wine was made, the world looked very different. Here are some of the stories that unfolded while this bottle quietly aged in its cellar.
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How it handles
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Storage
Store the bottle horizontally at 12–14°C and avoid direct sunlight, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations.
Opening
Allow the bottle to stand upright for 24–48 hours before opening to allow sediment to settle. Use a professional corkscrew and open carefully.
Enjoyment
Serve at 17–18°C and be patient – there is a great difference in how and how quickly wines open up when they are aerated.
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