This Merlot is an excellent expression of the grape variety: elegant but full-bodied wine with soft red fruit and characteristic notes of vanilla, cedar and cloves with a lively aftertaste. The nose shows red cherries and currants, while the palate reveals sour cherries, coffee and spicy cloves. The velvety texture is enhanced by a refreshing acidity, while well-integrated tannins add structure.
Selective picking helps concentrate the fruit and ensures that the Merlot has good color and distinctive character. The grapes were harvested with a sugar content of 24-25 ° B, after which the juice is cold soaked at 10 ° C for five days and fermented on the skins for 10 - 14 days, raising the temperature in the tank to 28 *C. The wine is then transferred to a combination of 50% new, 30% 2nd, 15% 3rd and 5% 4th 225 l French oak barrels. The wine then matures in the bottle for another 18 months.
Steenberg
Steenberg Vineyards is one of the Cape's oldest farms and was founded through the determination and courage of their founder, Catharina Ras. It is the spirit of Catherine that continues to inspire Steenberg to this day. The estate is home to some of the finest, award-winning wines and Cap Classiques in South Africa, the luxurious 5-star Steenberg Hotel and Spa, exceptional cuisine from two signature restaurants and a unique 18-hole golf course. Located in the idyllic Constantia Valley, Steenberg is truly a complete lifestyle destination.
Steenberg is located in the Constantia Valley, which has a cool climate and is the oldest wine region in the New World. Steenberg's vineyards cling to the slopes of Steenberg, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park. On the cool, east-facing slopes, the vines face the morning sun and are protected from the hot afternoon sun by the mountain's shadow. The coolness of the ocean travels only 5 km with the prevailing southeasterly wind in the summer months, keeping humidity low and limiting summer temperatures to just 22 °C.
