Zevenwacht Merlot 2012

Rich and generous with plush concentrated flavours of plums, chocolate and a combination of red and black cherries. Layers of red fruit, strawberries and hints of red cherries that cover the palate from start to finish. For those with a fondness for a softer yet full-bodied Merlot, then this is your investment wine - a wine that, with maturation, will reward you handsomely.

Terrific with meaty fish such as Tuna or Salmon or with goat’s cheese on a wild mushroom and spinach salad or a tasty pizza. Delicious with chocolate/berry desert! When to Enjoy: Socialising with friends over a relaxed meal. Serve at between a nice and cool 16° - 18°

variety : Merlot [ 100% Merlot ]
winemaker : Jacques Viljoen
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol  rs : 2.5 g/l  pH : 3.52  ta : 5.6 g/l  
type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full   wooded
pack : Bottle  size : 750ml  closure : Cork  

ageing : Will reward you handsomely with some maturation between 3 - 6 years.

in the vineyard : 
About the Estate
Zevenwacht Wine Estate, situated on the beautiful Stellenbosch Wine Route is a modern wine farm with a 300 year history. Owned and managed by the Johnson Family, the Estate has a strong commitment to historic and cultural preservation as well as conservation of the surrounding indigenous environment. Two prime farming locations provide the grapes for the Zevenwacht winery. The home vineyard on the Estate’s panoramic 450 hectare maritime influenced property, supplies the majority of the grapes. The farm Zevenrivieren, situated at the crest of the Helshoogte Pass, provides winemaker, Jacques Viljoen, with a boutique selection of grapes that add to the fascinating variety of the wines.

Two very different vineyards in Stellenbosch supplied the fruit for this wine. The first site, 200m above sea level on the south facing slopes of the Polkadraai Hills area, provides bright and juicy fruit with good acidity, tannic weight and absolute fruit density on the palate. The second vineyard on the higher (350m) South Western slopes of Polkadraai Hills, offers Ribena Ripeness, generosity and length on the palate. Although soil types differ between the sites, they all have some form of decomposed granite lying over structured clay subsoil allowing for ample drainage and water retention when required.

about the harvest: The grapes were picked at optimal tannin and fruit ripeness with a sugar of 25 Brix.

in the cellar : After destalking and a light crush, we fermented in 10 ton fermenters at 27° C. During the active part of fermentation, we gave the wine regular pump-overs and punch downs. This action allows for excellent extraction of ripe skin tannin and colour. We aged the wine in 300L barrels - 50% in 2nd fill and 50% in third fill for 16 months. An awesome well balanced and concentrated wine.

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