Kranskop Merlot 2001
Sought after classical flavours of cigar box, spice and ripe mulberries with a juicy mouth feel finishing and a lingering aftertaste of all spice.
variety : Merlot [ Merlot ]
winemaker : Nakkie Smit
wine of origin : Klaasvoogds
analysis : alc : 13.5 % vol rs : 2.8 g/l pH : 3.2 ta : 7.0 g/l
type : Red
AWARDS
Veritas - Silver
John Platter - 3½ stars
in the vineyard : Soil type: Deep stony soil
Average age of vine: 6 years
Trellising: 2m poles with 5 canopy wires
Irrigation: Not on a regular basis, but only if the vines shows signs of tugor
Yield: 8 tons/ha
about the harvest: Low production volumes achieved by green dropping, deficit irrigation and 'fresh' fertilised soil.
in the cellar : Vinification: Open fermentation for 9 days. Soft handling of skins during last part of process. After pressing with a basket press juice goes with the free run juice to the barrels for 12 months.
Wood ageing: 20% New French Oak with 80% 2nd and 3rd fill French barrels.
Malolactic fermentation: Malolactic fermentation was completed in the barrels after 8 months. The wine was taken off the lees, barrels were cleaned and put back into 225 litre barrels.
Production: 3000 bottles.
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