Cramele Recas La Stejari Merlot 2020
The 2020 vintage was once again exceptional for Merlot, allowing us to create a limited-edition wine within this super-premium range, reserved for collectors and carefully selected hospitality venues.
Cramele Recas La Stejari Merlot is the expression of a single grape variety, a single terroir and a dream fulfilled for winemaker Nora Iriarte. The grapes were hand-harvested and meticulously sorted from vineyards with predominantly limestone soils.
In the winery, a non-interventionist winemaking approach was adopted. The grapes were destemmed and transferred to stainless steel fermentation tanks, where they underwent maceration for 10 days until alcoholic fermentation reached approximately 90%. Only the free-run wine was retained, while the press wine was separated through gentle draining.
Following alcoholic fermentation, the wine was clarified using centrifugal settling before undergoing malolactic fermentation. This process ensured a clean malolactic fermentation, allowing for lower sulphur additions and eliminating the need for fining agents.
The wine was then aged for 12 months in new French oak barriques crafted by Dargaud & Jaegle, one of the world’s most renowned cooperages, using oak sourced from the prestigious Allier Forest. After ageing, the wine was bottled unfiltered and matured for a further 10 months in bottle before its release in March 2023.
Cramele Recas La Stejari Merlot captivates with its elegance and finesse. Initially reserved upon opening, this deep purple-red wine gradually reveals itself after a few minutes of aeration, displaying refined aromas of violet and forest berries, including blackberry, blueberry and raspberry. These are beautifully complemented by notes of vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg derived from barrel ageing.
The palate is dense and concentrated, supported by elegant tannins with an appealing firmness. Acidity and alcohol are seamlessly integrated, confirming another outstanding year for Merlot. Refined, precise, and thoroughly enjoyable, this is a wine with excellent ageing potential and can be cellared for at least 10 years.
