Stellenbosch Merlot 2022

Rustenberg, fact sheet (rustenberg.co.za – linket fra rustenberg.co.za, hentet 2026-10-18): 2022 Rustenberg Stellenbosch Merlot – område: Stellenbosch; 100% Merlot; alkohol 14.1%. Producentens noter (engelsk): Introduction: Merlot has been a mainstay red grape variety on Rustenberg since the late 1970's where its lead role has been to complement Cabernet Sauvignon in blends. Rustenberg's Merlots tend to be bigger and bolder in body and are structured to have excellent aging potential, pairing well with red meat-based dishes and rewarding decanting before being served. Vintage: The winter of 2021 was very cold and wet following a warm autumn. Bud burst was late and the cold, wet weather continued into Spring, requiring careful disease and canopy management. The cool, wet weather extended until the middle of December, delaying the growing season for the red varietals in Stellenbosch. From the middle of December onwards the weather warmed up considerably with three heatwaves being experienced in January and one in February. Despite this warmer weather the red wine harvest required patience as the tannins took some time to fully ripen. March and April were moderate temperature-wise and we experienced the odd shower. Our decision to delay harvesting was rewarded with excellent concentration and ripeness in the red wines. The marathon vintage ended in late April and was the biggest and longest vintage in Rustenberg’s history.