variety : Merlot [ 100% Merlot ]
winemaker : Dirk van Zyl
wine of origin : Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.71 % vol rs : 2.4 g/l pH : 3.57 ta : 5.2 g/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Medium taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Screwcap
in the vineyard : Following the 2021 harvest, the weather turned cooler and drier, prolonging the leaf cycle compared to usual seasons. Bud break occurred evenly but was delayed by seven days compared to the previous vintage.
Spring saw persistent low temperatures, causing flowering to be postponed by around 10 days. Substantial rainfall during this period presented challenges to flowering and berry set.
Despite these hurdles, moderate temperatures in early summer facilitated balanced vine growth. January and February witnessed a prolonged dry and hot weather spell, featuring intermittent heat waves.
Ripening did not accelerate significantly despite the heat spikes during this period. While yields were modest, the resulting wines is of exceptional quality, careful timing during picking to preserve freshness was everything for this vintage.