Product Description
Varieties
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
The Vineyard
Meerlust, with its historic manor house, classic wine cellar, family cemetery, dovecote and bird sanctuary is situated fifteen kilometers south of Stellenbosch, with the blue crescent of False Bay a mere five kilometers away. Wines are only made from grapes grown on the Estate which is uniquely positioned for the production of wines with exceptional complexity and character.
In the summertime, ocean breezes and evening mists roll in from the coast to cool the vineyards. The grapes ripen slowly, thus achieving full, concentrated varietal flavours. The soils consist of predominantly deep, well drained Hutton and Clovelly soil types, affording the vines excellent drought resistance and an ideal substrata for producing concentrated, complex wines.
The Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 was vinified from selected fruit from 2 low-yielding mature vineyards. The vines are densely planted on well drained, gravelly, low vigour Vilafontes and Dundee soil which has approximately 15 % clay to ensure water availability to the vines roots right through the growing season.
The Harvest
The fruit was hand-picked.
The Cellar
The hand picked fruit was vinified in the traditional manner with partial un-inoculated fermentation and regular remontage. Only the free-run wine was used and aged for 16 months in tight grained French Nevers oak barrels. 60% of the barrels were brand new with 40 % second fill casks.
Wine Maker : Chris Williams
Alcohol – 14.3 %vol
pH – 3.57
RS – 3.0 g/l
Total Acid – 6.00 g/l
Volatile Acidity – 0.6 g/l
Appellation – Stellenbosch
Aging Potential
Although approachable now the Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 will be best from 4 – 15 years from vintage.
