Our Stellenbosch vineyards provide the fruit for this Merlot, with upfront plum fruit flavours. It shows lovely supple tannins, making it an excellent food partner.
IN THE VINEYARD:
This Merlot is from our farm, Houmoed, in the southern hills of Stellenbosch, some 8km from the False Bay coast. This vineyard is predominantly on gravelly soils (koffieklip). The vines were planted in 2000 and are trellised on the extended Perold system. The vineyard yields approximately six tons per hectare.
HARVEST DATES:
7th of March 2008
WINEMAKING:
The grapes were hand-picked at 25.1 degrees balling, destalked and lightly crushed in stainless steel tanks. Yeast BM45 was used and the wine fermented until dry. After fermentation the wine was racked to barrels for malolactic fermentation which lasted two months and after racking spent a further 10 months in French oak barrels. 10% new wood was used, with the remainder being 2nd and 3rd fill barrels.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:
Wines of the 2008 vintage have shown to be more fruit oriented, with softer tannins. Therefore we adopted a gentler oaking regime for this wine and it has allowed the elegant fruit flavours to come through on the palate. Anthony de Jager
TASTING NOTE:
Good varietal character showing plum and mulberries on the nose with hints of cedar. Mouthfeel is well rounded, with the fruit coming to the fore.
WINE ANALYSIS:
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
Alcohol 14.74%
Residual sugar 2.3 g/l
Total acid 5.7 g/l
pH 3.51
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