Merlot

Red meats, game and strong cheeses

The 2018 harvest season was very challenging due to a prolonged drought, whom some believe to be the worst in 100 years, showing its impact. The winter months only cooled off later with higher-than-normal temperatures and the farm only receiving 80% of the expected winter rainfall. The dry weather throughout the season did have its advantages as vines were healthy, with little or no pests and diseases being recorded. The limited water availability also resulted in a smaller crop due to lighter bunches and very small berries. This coupled with the night temperatures that were cooler than usual during the ripening period, resulted in excellent colour and flavour development.

After 8 months in barrel, the final components were selected and blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.

This wine consists of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It is made up of a few individual parcels that are all fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels.

Meerlust is a historic Stellenbosch wine estate with eight generations of family winemaking dating back to 1756. Best known for its flagship Rubicon Bordeaux-style blend, the estate also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with vineyards shaped by the cooling influence of nearby False Bay.