The Kirby Estate 2020 Signature Merlot is an unfiltered “blockbuster” full on the palate and exhibiting a nuanced melange of perfumes, berries and spices. The signature merlot fruit was sourced exclusively from sandy loam soils at Kirby Vineyard in Niagara-On-The-Lake, and hand picked in baskets from 18-year old vines in 2 batches on October 24 and November 7 at 23+ brix and 25+ brix. The berries were sorted, cold soaked for 2 days and transferred to steel tank for 2 weeks for primary fermentation from wild yeast. The wine was transferred to new and neutral French barrels for secondary fermentation and aged for 20 months. The wine was left unfiltered and bottled in July of 2022 at 15.7% abv. Selected barrels were chosen from this stellar vintage resulting in a premium wine exhibiting a nuanced melange of perfumes, berries and spices.