Named after our family matriarch, ‘The Merle’ is hand picked and sorted in the vineyard from the best parcels of Riesling from our Polish Hill River Estate. We are aiming for the purest expression of Polish Hill Riesling for this wine.

Our winemaking approach is designed to capture the flavour of each individual site with minimal winemaking influence. ‘The Merle’ presents the pinnacle of Riesling at Pikes, showing concentration, sense of place and purity.

After an average winter rainfall, our soil profile was full, giving the vines a great start to the growing season. Following early bud burst, a bad frost event hit some parts of the valley in late October. Spring was dry, but thunderstorms in November and December helped setup our vine canopies. A warm, dry harvest with low disease pressure allowed grape intake to run extremely smoothly. Riesling yields were slightly above average. Named after the family matriarch, ‘The Merle’ is selected from the best parcels of Riesling from our Polish Hill River Estate. This wine is intended to showcase the purest expression our estate grown Riesling from the vintage.

100% free run juice, fermented with neutral yeast in stainless steel, 4 months on lees post fermentation.

Bright yet concentrated lime juice, with a touch of pink grapefruit generosity in the mouthfeel, all framed around a ground ginger note with the Polish Hill River’s famous minerality and lime leaf florals providing backbone.

Lime pith and green apple roll out, with some classic Merle notes of Kaffir lime leaf, jasmine blossom and talcy elements hinting minerality lifting easily in support.