Why is Sevenhill Merlot so sensationally different? Firstly because Merlot is a sook! It needs a certain soil type to produce its best, not too rich or too poor. Grapes are crushed into Sevenhill's century old slate fermenters, a perfect size for allowing the soaking skins to give up their character into the wine. The must is pumped over or gently plunged daily to gently extract colour and tannins. Following a traditional basket press, the wine is transferred into a combination of new and older French and American oak hogsheads for eighteen months maturation.