Cranswick Estate Merlot 2008 is made from 100% Merlot grapes, harvested from mature vineyards of 15 years. The fermentation was done in stainless steel but then the wine was pressed onto French oak planks before malolactic fermentation to help integrate the tannin and vanillin flavours. Further maturation in oak for 3 months before bottling. Cranswick Estate Merlot 2008 is a dark, intensely coloured wine, with the signature rich plum and cherry aromas of a good Merlot. There are sweet oak overtones on the nose from the maturation process. On the palate there are deep savoury plum fruit characters with smooth tannins and a silky long vanillin finish.