Merlot

Enjoy with Spaghetti Bolognese, and a grilled lamb rump.

Le Bonheur Estate has an enviable terroir. The 163 hectare farm has vineyards facing North, East and South-East, situated on altitudes ranging from 200m to 450m above sea level. The main soil types are Hutton, Tukulu, Klapmuts and Kroonstad. The main component of grapes selected for this wine was sourced from the oldest Merlot vineyard on the estate -planted in 1985. 2021 Was a cooler vintage, meaning balanced phenolic ripeness in the vineyards. Small concentrated berries produced complex yet lively fruit driven wines with fine tannin that integrated well with our selection of the finest French oak. Generous rainfall really boosted vineyard energy which in return produced decent healthy shoots and canopies. Record harvest yet maintaining the “low yield on old vine’’ mindset.

The wine represents a selection of the best Merlot barrels of the vintage. The final blend was created after 18 months in 300 liter French oak barrels.

The best Merlot vineyards were selected and vinified seperately. The grapes were cooled, with cold extraction taking place before fermentation. Delicate extraction took place in stainless steel tanks, with daily, light pumpovers. Due to small berries and sufficient natural extraction, the winemaking approach at Le Bonheur is soft and delicate, resulting in smooth wines, with ample red fruit and supple tannins.

Le Bonheur has a rich winemaking history dating back to the late 1700s. The estate’s spirit of a journey to happiness dates back to an era when the estate was a trading post for French Huguenots travelling between Cape Town and Franschhoek. The property soon gained a reputation as a lush place of solace and social gathering, which led to the Estate’s name: Le Bonheur, meaning happiness. Today Le Bonheur brings the name it was given by the French settlers to life, by contributing to everyday happiness through simple moments of sharing and enjoying great wines.