in the vineyard : The vintage
The summer of 2009 had mild temperatures in the early months of ripening - extremely favourable conditions for the production of 'greener' flavours in Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
The vineyards
The diversity of the soils, slopes and elevations is closely linked with the quality of Plaisir de Merle wines. Well-drained weathered granite soils (predominantly Tukulu and Hutton) with good water retention allow minimal irrigation with most vineyards dry land. The vines, ranging in age from 8 to 25 years old, were grown in Hutton soil between 300 m and 500 m above sea level on the south-eastern slopes of the Simonsberg.
Grapes were harvested by hand and sourced from four different vineyards. Due to the cooler conditions at higher altitudes, the grapes have more intense green pepper and green fig flavours. The older vineyards, which are planted on the intermediate slopes, produce grapes which are more tropical in character. With the younger vineyards situated about 500 m above sea-level, the grapes provided the higher concentration of cool climate 'greener' flavours - herbs, grass, nettles, peppers, winter melon and even green peas. The older vineyards added the riper spanspek, peach, tropical, more floral, almost peach blossom flavours.
The result was a combination of crisp 'cooler' flavours, with that of the indigenous 'buchu' and tropical character that evolved from the older vines giving more weight and mouth-feel to the wine.
Viticulturist
Freddie le Roux