Merlot 2018

Meerlust, fact sheet (meerlust.co.za – linket fra meerlust.co.za, hentet 2026-10-18): 2018 Meerlust Merlot – område: Stellenbosch; 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot; alkohol 14%. W.O. står ikke på arket; druerne er ifølge arket fra godset, som ligger i Stellenbosch. Producentens noter (engelsk): Season: The 2018 harvest season was very challenging due to a prolonged drought, whom some believe to be the worst in 100 years, showing its impact. The winter months only cooled off later with higher-than-normal temperatures and the farm only receiving 80% of the expected winter rainfall. The dry weather throughout the season did have its advantages as vines were healthy, with little or no pests and diseases being recorded. The limited water availability also resulted in a smaller crop due to lighter bunches and very small berries. This coupled with the night temperatures that were cooler than usual during the ripening period, resulted in excellent colour and flavour development. Vinification: This wine consists of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It is made up of a few individual parcels that are all fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels. After 8 months in barrel, the final components were selected and blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling. Terroir: Our Merlot is a true expression of the variety as grown on the Meerlust estate and draws fruit from two of our four distinctive terroirs. Each terroir provides a unique element to the final blend. Kompagniesdrift - The soils from this warm north facing slope are predominantly formed from weathered granite. The wines originating from this granitic hilltop are expressive and bold in structure, mainly due to the coarse gravelly texture and sufficient soil depth to promote long and even ripening. The Quarry - The extremely rocky terrain consisting of greywacke with interbedded shales provides a unique substrate for vines. Shallow rooted vines on this cool and windswept foot slope leads to wines with characteristic red fruit with exceptional length, detail, and precision.