Parel Vallei Merlot

Grilled flat iron steak with blue cheese butter.

Proprietor of Anthonij Rupert Wyne, Johann Rupert, has taken a personal interest in this parcel of fruit – since it is planted literally in his backyard. A small block of Merlot, planted at high density in residential Somerset-West, produces this uniquely perfumed wine. Deep clay soils and strict canopy management of the vertically trellised vines gives us consistency of character and taste of the grapes and resultant wine.

It was aged in the same new French oak barrels for 24 months and bottle-aged for a further 24 months.

The grapes were hand-sorted, and fermented in 225L new French oak barrels. After fermentation we extended skin contact for a further 10 days before pressing the wine, making the total days on the skins about 45 days. It was racked, went through malolactic fermentation and then finally aged in the same new French oak barrels for 24 months. Further bottle-ageing for 24 months ensures the wine is in its prime at time of release.

This is a range created in recognition of the Cape of Good Hope’s vinous heritage which stretches back more than 350 years when the first Governor of the Cape planted grapes. These unique wines are the result of irreplaceable parcels of old vines and site specific terroirs. The labels reflect the grape variety as well as the origin and singular characters behind them.