Katnook Estate Merlot 2021(6 x 750mL), Coonawarra, SA.

Katnook Estate is one of the premier wineries in Australia's pre eminent red wine district, Coonawarra. Katnook Estate wines are made from select grapes grown in distinguished sites within the company's 330 hectares of Coonawarra vineyards.

Since 1980,  senior winemaker, Wayne Stehbens has crafted Katnook Estate wines and more recently, the iconic Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon and Prodigy Shiraz.   

The Coonawarra wine region, Australia's "other red centre" is recognised world wide as producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as stylish Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Currently, over 5500 hectares are under vine in Coonawarra - with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz accounting for 80% of plantings. 25% of wine produced in Coonawarra is exported.

The wines are shaped by the extraordinary terroir of Coonawarra - where the fabled Terra Rossa soils and cool maritime climate create the perfect wine grape growing environment.

Soil

Coonawarra's is famous for its prized Terra Rossa ( "Red Earth") soil. This rich, friable red loam vary from a few centimetres to a metre in depth and lie over a thin layer of calcareous matter, which in turn overlays a deep stratum of limestone. The cigar-shaped strip of Terra Rossa soil is only 12 km long and 2 km wide.  

Coonawarra appears completely flat, but in fact the red soil is situated on a slight but all important limestone ridge. The Terra Rossa soils are considered the best in the world for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.

Climate

Coonawarra is a cool wine region, with similar climatic conditions to Bordeaux, France. Both areas experience long but cool hours of sunshine during grape ripening - encouraging intense flavours balanced by good, natural acid.