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 véraison to ensure evenly ripe fruit. Picking was decided by tasting, thereby ensuring optimal ripeness.

14 months in French oak, 40% new

All grapes were handpicked and sorted in the vineyard, transported to the cellar, destemmed and lightly crushed. 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. After settling, the wine went to French oak for malolactic fermentation.

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.