{"product_id":"leaning-post-merlot","title":"Leaning Post Merlot","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLeaning Post Merlot - Niagara Peninsula, Canada\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer's Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 vintage of our Merlot captures the essence of a warm year in the cool-climate terroir of the Niagara Lakeshore. This sub-appellation’s proximity to Lake Ontario tempers the summer heat, preserving fresh acidity and allowing the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAromatically, it opens with layers of ripe black cherry, plum, and blackberry, intertwined with subtle floral notes of violet and dried lavender. The warm vintage adds a lush, fruit-forward intensity, while the cool climate contributes elegant hints of graphite, dried herbs, and a mineral-driven earthiness that speaks to the Lakeshore’s clay-loam soils. This Merlot is medium\/full-bodied with silky tannins, offering a refined balance between juicy fruit and savory complexity. Flavors of dark berries and red currant are accented by cocoa, tobacco leaf, and a whisper of oak spice from careful barrel aging. The finish is long, polished, and punctuated with a refreshing minerality that nods to its cool-climate roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wine is stunningly approachable now but will reward careful cellaring over the next 5–7 years, allowing the terroir-driven nuances to further unfold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat We Say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDark berries and red currant provide the fruit core, while cocoa, tobacco leaf, and subtle oak spice add depth and savory complexity. The tannins are substantial but polished rather than aggressive, giving the wine structure without sacrificing elegance. Bright acidity keeps the generous fruit focused, and the finish is long, refined, and mineral-driven.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Merlot is made with a hands-on approach. The fruit is hand-picked and hand-sorted the fruit, before fermentation. Fermentation takes place in small, open-top fermenters, with the skins punched down manually twice a day. The wine is then pressed and matured in a combination of French and American oak, allowing the fruit to develop greater texture and complexity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape Varietal: \u003c\/strong\u003eMerlot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle: \u003c\/strong\u003eRed - Dry, medium to full-bodied, soft, suave, juicy, and silky, refined tannins\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol: \u003c\/strong\u003e14.5%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrink Window: \u003c\/strong\u003eNow - 10+ years (\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e5 to 10+ years\u003c\/span\u003e from the vintage date)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect For: \u003c\/strong\u003eGrilled roast meats, grilled vegitables, turkey sausages or wild poultry cooked over an open fire, and charcuterie Boards\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA rich yet elegant Niagara red supported by silky tannins and vibrant cool-climate acidity.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Leaning Post","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49063592132840,"sku":"70587","price":59.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0224\/6549\/files\/LeaningPostMerlot.jpg?v=1789424840","url":"https:\/\/kenastonwine.com\/products\/leaning-post-merlot","provider":"Kenaston Wine Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}