variety : Merlot
winemaker : Johan Jordaan
wine of origin : Western Cape
analysis : alc : 14.77 % vol rs : 3.2 g/l pH : 3.67 ta : 6.1 g/l
type : Red style : Dry taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle closure : Cork
in the vineyard : Climate
The 2009 pre harvest season was received very well, cool spring weather led to even growth and slow development of the grapes. After veraison the climate remained optimal for slow development and maximum time on the vine which resulted in grapes with optimal ripeness reached at lower sugar levels and great concentration of flavour and structure.
Terroir
Soil: Decomposed granite.
Viticulture
Planted on south-western facing slopes, these grapes come predominantly from Stellenbosch and Darling. Supplementary irrigation was used for canopy management and fruit quality control. Selected clones, suitable for low yields and concentrated grapes. Trellised, 12 year old vines.
in the cellar : Once sorted and crushed, the berries are split between stainless steel fermenting tanks and open-top wooden fermenters and cooled for two days. This cold soaking before the inoculation of yeasts enables the extraction of colour and flavours.
After fermentation, each blend component undergoes malolactic fermentation in separate oak barrel batches. The wine is matured in 300litre French oak barrels for 16 months and each barrel is evaluated individually before the final selection.
Merlot, as the largest component in this blend, provides the structure, whilst the Cabernet Sauvignon fills out the palate. The addition of Malbec adds upfront fruit, particularly ripe black cherries, whilst the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot add complexity that makes this blend unique.