Merlot

Merlot pairs well with a range of foods. Panko crumbed pork with mustard cream sauce, roasted tomato pasta or a juicy hamburger with cheddar cheese topping .

The vineyards were given a green harvest at verraision to ensure evenly ripe fruit. Picking was decided by tasting, thereby ensuring optimal ripeness. All grapes were handpicked and sorted in the vineyard, de-stemmed and lightly crushed.

After settling, the wine was moved to French oak for malolactic fermentation. 18 months in French oak, 45% new, 40% 2nd fill, the balance in older French oak barrels.

The grapes were cold-soaked and then inoculated with French-sourced yeast. The must was fermented between 24 and 26° Celsius and pumped over daily. An extended maceration took place, followed by fractional pressing.

Hartenberg is a historic Stellenbosch wine estate established in 1692 on the slopes of the Bottelary Hills. Known particularly for Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, the estate combines regenerative viticulture with a long-term commitment to its vineyards, producing structured South African wines shaped by site and careful farming.