Merlot clone Davis D3/V14 is planted to the elite Old Block sited to rich Terra rossa soils that are made very special by areas of clay pan. Merlot is ideally suited to clay pan, one of the defining reasons why Parker was considered a benchmark ever since innaugural release. Grapes are picked and inoculated as a single parcel in small eight tonne open topped static fermenters. The wine remained seven days on skins before pressing into barriques for eighteen months maturation in a combination of new and prior use Sirugue, Seguin Moreau and Tarasaud French oaks. A component of Cabernet is added for strength and to provide length. Lightly fined with egg white.