Single Bottle

2017 ranked No.1 2017 Merlot in NSW (The Real Review, Huon Hooke)

Double Gold - Global Fine Wine Challenge 2022

Global Merlot Masters 2023 Award - MERLOT MASTER

The 2023 Global Merlot Masters competition was judged on 2 February at 28-50 Chelsea, London, employing experienced judges and a unique sampling process. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Merlot Master - presented to HOOSEGG Mountain Dragon Merlot.

"A deep vibrant red. Amazing rich varietal aroma very bright with very integrated oak adding complexity. The wine has amazing rich fruit palate, but still maintains its vibrance with a mass of soft tannins and varietal red fruits character - fabulous wine." Philip Shaw

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Vine to Wine
Tasting Notes

The 2018 growing season was a season of contrasts. The winter (2017) was very dry; June was the driest June on record. We followed our normal practice of pruning quite late to help avoid spring frosts at Koomooloo. As has been the case in the last decade, the seasonal patterns are showing quite a bit of variability – so the spring rains didn’t arrive until November/December. The season was warm and dry from January until harvest. The soils at Koomooloo are deep and have good water holding capacity, so even with low rainfall we still produced an excellent, balanced crop. Yields were moderate, with quality potential excellent. Grapes were picked from Koomooloo Block 9, from Clone Q45. The vines were bunch thinned to one bunch a shoot which produced under 3 tonnes a hectare of excellent fruit. The grapes where handpicked and chilled. The following day 75% destemmed, the balance added as whole bunch to the open fermenter. About 10% of juice was removed and fermentation started with native yeast 4 days later to help extract colour; the must was irrigated for a short time twice daily. The wine was removed from skins about 30 days after destemming and the skins pressed back to the main body of wine. The wine was pumped directly to 75% new French oak barrels and aged for 20 months in oak.

"A deep vibrant red. Amazing rich varietal aroma very bright with very Integrated oak adding complexity. The wine has amazing rich fruit palate, but still maintains its vibrance with a mass of soft tannins and varietal red fruits character - fabulous wine." PS