Product Description
Varieties
Merlot
The Vineyard
The Merlot vineyards are planted on Hutton Oak Leaf soils at 200 metres above sea level on the slopes
of the Tygerberg 7 kilometres from, and in sight of, the Atlantic Ocean.
The age of the vines ranges from 14 to 17 years and an estimated 2,300 vines yield a crop of 7 to 8 tons per hectare per vintage.
The Harvest
The 2018 vintage was affected by the worst drought conditions ever experienced in the Western Cape. Meticulous irrigation management supplied the precise quantity of water at the correct times to the vines. During such dry conditions diseases are restricted, resulting in the 2018 crop being entirely disease free. Furthermore, it resulted in our winemaking team having to preserve the grapes’ aromatic potential through careful viticultural practices such as limited thinning, managing nitrogen nourishment, allowing adequate plant vigour, appropriate water supply and careful selection of harvest dates.
The Cellar
Handpicked fruit was destalked, crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The ‘aerated pumpover’ method was used to gently pump the fermenting juice over the skin cap four times a day for one hour periods at a time, ensuring soft tannins. After fermentation the wine was pressed, racked and matured in 1/3 new French Oak, 1/3 in second fill French Oak and 1/3 in third fill French Oak for 13 months.
Aging Potential
5 years.
Awards
2018
Winemag Merlot Report 2020 90 Points
2017
Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2020 Gold
Winemag Merlot Report 2020 Top 10
2016
South African Wine Index 2018 Platinum
The Sommeliers Selection 2018 – Elegant/Classy Reds
Vitis Vinifera Awards 2017 Gold
Vitis Vinifera Awards 2018 Gold
2014
SA Terroir Wine Awards 2016 Area Winner
2013
The Sommeliers Selection 2015 – Elegant/Classy Red
2012
Vitis Vinifera Awards 2014 Gold
South African Airways Listings 2015 Premium Class
Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2015 Double Gold
2011
Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2014 Gold
Veritas 2014 Gold
2010
Michelangelo Int Wine Awards 2013 Gold
Six Nations Wine Challenge 2013 Gold
Veritas 2013 Double Gold
2009
Veritas 2012 Gold
2007
Veritas Gold
2006
Platter’s 4 Stars
SA Terroir Wine Awards National Certificate for Top Merlot
Veritas Gold
