Lushof Merlot 2003

Deep garnet colour with bright crimson hues hints at the rich aromas and flavours that follow. Mulberry fruits and stewed plums burst forth with a whiff of cigar box and mocha, neatly meshed with toasty characters from fine, well-seasoned French oak barriques. A restricted crop gave small, intensely flavoured berries, providing a concentration and mouthfeel which is both upfront and velvety. A fine coating of sweet and supple fruit tannin adds the final, defining link to this approachable, all occasions red.


variety : Merlot [ 100% Merlot ]
winemaker : Daniel Hudson
wine of origin : Coastal
analysis : alc : 13.94 % vol  rs : 2.1 g/l  pH : 3.7  ta : 6.8 g/l  va : 0.44 g/l  so2 : 44 mg/l  fso2 : 16 mg/l  
type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full  taste : Fragrant   wooded
pack : Bottle  

ageing : Up to 2 years.

in the vineyard : Location: North West Slopes of the Helderberg
Altitude: 360 m
Distance from the sea: 10 km
Soil type: Hutton (decomposed granite)
Rootstock: Richter 99
Age of vines: 5 years
Trellising: Vertically shoot positioned/Double cordons
Pruning: 2 node spurs

about the harvest: The grapes were harvested on the 3rd of March 2003 at 18 tons and 24.5° Balling.

in the cellar : Closed tank fermentation below 24.5°C with regular aerative pump-overs. We used Lalvin L1033 yeast at a dosage of 25g/hl. Malolactic fermentation in oak barrels for 14 months (30% new wood) followed.
The wine was bottled on the 3rd of September 2004
Production: 744 x 6 cases

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Merlot
Merlot
Merlot