Delicata has released the long-anticipated 2015 vintage of the Merlot and Syrah wines in the winery’s flagship Gran Cavalier range.

Both cask-matured red wines have become very sought after, especially in the last few years thanks to the wines’ quality and unparalleled gold-medal count. Barrel samples have previously been reported on as being very promising and a recent tasting of the actual finished wines from bottle confirms their pedigree and potential.

Once again, the Merlot is crafted from hand-picked grapes with prolonged hang-time from bespoke vineyard parcels with the most suitable clay loam soils at Tas-Salib.

The Merlot varietal is well-structured following judicious skin maceration and 10 months of maturation in barrique. It tastes delicate and is reminiscent of the classic French style that made Bordeaux claret popular, but with that added pleasurable dusty and faintly savoury Maltese hallmark to it.

The 100 per cent Syrah is equally glossy and tantalising in nature, already showing typical trademark flavours of raspberry and dark fruits along with hints of crushed black pepper and depth.