Parel Vallei Merlot

Please note: Award stickers are applied at the producer's discretion and may not be present on all bottles.

The grapes were hand-sorted, and fermented in 225 L new French oak barrels. After fermentation, extended skin contact was allowed for a further 10 days before pressing the wine, making the total number of days on the skins about 45 days. The wine went through malolactic fermentation in the same barrels.

Proprietor of Anthonij Rupert Wyne, Johann Rupert, has taken a personal interest in this parcel of fruit – since it is literally planted 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 these vertically trellised vines gives us consistency of character. 2017 was a slightly higher yielding vintage than the previous year. Following a dry growing season, berries were smaller which resulted in deeper colour and higher flavour concentration. The cool weather during the harvest promises some exceptional wines.

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