variety : Merlot [ 100% Merlot ]
winemaker : Guy Webber & Samantha de Morney-Hughes
wine of origin : Coastal
analysis : alc : 13.26 % vol rs : 2.0 g/l pH : 3.55 ta : 6.0 g/l va : 0.42 g/l so2 : 86 mg/l
type : Red body : Medium taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle closure : Cork
in the vineyard : Background
Stellenzicht's Hill&Dale label offers a range of accessibly styled wines with a New World character for international appeal, created by award-winning winemaker Guy Webber and his team. Despite their being made for early and easy enjoyment, Webber has eschewed a generic format for these wines, instead choosing to clearly express their origins.
Grapes for the Hill&Dale range of wines are sourced exclusively from Stellenbosch vineyards. An extensive vineyard management programme is in place that includes inputs from the various viticulturists and under the guidance of vineyard guru, Prof. Eben Archer.
The name for the range was derived from Stellenzicht's Hillandale farm located just outside the town of Stellenbosch.
Vineyard Location
The vineyards, planted between 1987 and 1990, are situated on gentle slopes facing north-east, planted at an altitude of between 160m and 230m above sea level and grown in fertile soils of decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone. The vines are all grafted onto nematode-resistant rootstocks and trellised on five-wire fence systems. Supplementary irrigation was given when necessary, and yields averaged 5.4tons per hectare.
Viticulturist: Prof. Eben Archer
in the cellar : After destalking and crushing, the mash was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 28° for six days before being transferred to oak barrels and vats for further maturation of around 10 months.