Merlot 2018

TASTING NOTES

Ripe red fruit, strawberries and  blueberries with subtle aromas of cherry tabacco and cinnamon. The fruit shows concentration on a rounded, velvetly, well-structured palate.

John Platter (2019 – 2020)- Review

Merlot -Lightly oaked (as all these reds are) , intensely sweet aromas of plum & chocolate yet palate is dry, has good tannic grip for food partnering.

ENJOY WITH
Enjoy with red meat or creamy pastas.

WINE OF ORIGIN
Western Cape

GEOGRAPHY
Western Cape Province of South Africa Cold wet winters, hot dry summers.

IN THE VINEYARD
Vineyards planted on warmer north and north westerly slopes. Vineyards are trellised, 5 wire Perold system, with basic canopy and crop management. Vineyards only receive supplemental irrigation. Harvested mid February to the beginning of March.

THE HARVEST
YIELD: 10 – 12 t/ha
BALLING AT HARVEST: 24.5 – 26°B

IN THE CELLAR
Fermented on skins for 7 – 12 days after which the skins are pressed and the wine is inoculated with malolactic bacteria to initiate a secondary fermentation. On completion of malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured in French oak 3 – 4 months. There after the wine is filtered and stabilized prior to bottling.

BLEND INFORMATION
100% Merlot

ALCOHOL
14%

MATURATION POTENTIAL

8 – 10 years.