Zonnebloem Merlot 2014

Name: Zonnebloem Merlot 2014
Brand: Zonnebloem
SKU: 37946

Colour: Ruby red.
Bouquet Combination of red fruit and mulberry aromas, with a hint of cigar box and oak spice.
Palate: An elegant medium- to full-bodied wine with delicate red fruit and well-integrated wood flavours Perfectly-balanced with accessible tannins and a satisfying finish.

Excellent enjoyed on its own or served with rich oxtail stews, chicken curries, game and red meat dishes.

variety : Merlot [ 100% Merlot ]

winery : Zonnebloem Wines

winemaker : Bonny van Niekerk

wine of origin : Stellenbosch

analysis : alc : 13.86 % vol rs : 2.90 g/l pH : 3.56 ta : 5.56 g/l

type : Red style : Dry body : Medium taste : Fruity wooded

pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Cork

Crafting Contemporary Classics
South African wines so often tread the line between the old world and the new and for Zonnebloem’s range of award winning wines, this balance between classic and contemporary is ever present. Zonnebloem is a brand that stands for craftsmanship in all its forms. After all craft is at the heart of the winemaking process, from the farms that produce our grapes who use the earth as their canvas to create the fruit which lends our wines their rich, distinctive character; to the winemakers who use the skills they have learned and developed over decades to create the rich varietals and blends that make up the Zonnebloem staple. Our commitment to craft doesn’t end with the bottled product, Zonnebloem invests in craftsmen and artisans to ensure that every bottle is presented, and enjoyed, in a way that speaks to the craft that went into its creation.

A Culture of Excellence
Zonnebloem has a storied history going back to the establishment of the original estate in 1692, but the true story of Zonnebloem Wines starts in 1856 when the original estate was divided between the sons of Petrus Malherbe. One of his sons named his portion Zonnebloem. The farm was later purchased by the Furter family and in 1940 Frederik Furter’s granddaughter Marie took over winemaking at the estate and met with almost instant success winning three trophies at the prestigious Cape Wine Show. She went on to repeat this feat a further three times. It is stories like this that inspire us, and it is why we strive to seek out and recognise excellence in craftsmanship wherever we may find it, because what is excellent today, would have been excellent in the past and will still be considered excellent tomorrow.

Since1856 Zonnebloem has been creating wines that speak to the values of fine craftsmanship. Our award-winning range combines the best of the old and new worlds to ensure that every bottle becomes a modern classic.

in the vineyard : Annelie Viljoen (Viticulturist)
The grapes were sourced from trellised, dryland vineyards in the Devon Valley, Stellenbosch Kloof and Jonkershoek areas. Mostly south-west facing, they derive the maximum benefit from cooling maritime breezes that contribute to slow ripening of the grapes and concentrated fruit flavours.

about the harvest: Deon Boshoff (Cellar Master) / Bonny van Niekerk (Winemaker)
The grapes were harvested by hand in March at 24° to 25° Balling, when fruit and tannins were fully ripened but the berries and skins were still firm.

in the cellar : The Craft of Viniculture: Deon Boshoff (Cellar Master) / Bonny van Niekerk (Winemaker)
The different vineyards blocks were separately vinified. Fermentation on the skins took place for 10 to 12 days at 27°C. The grapes were pressed at 5˚ Balling to ensure that no harsh or bitter tannins were extracted. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured in a combination of wood (55% in 300- litre barrels - 80% French and 20% American oak) and stainless steel tanks (45%) for 12 months.

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