Merlot

The grapes were harvested at 24.3 and 25.2° Balling and were fermented in stainless steel tanks at 24 °C for around 7 to 9 days. The juice was pumped over the skins daily until fermented dry. Upon completion of fermentation the wine was left on the skins for 7 days. The wine was racked off the skins and malo-lactic fermentation was completed in the tanks and barrels.

The diversity of the soils, slopes and elevations is closely linked with the quality of Plaisir de Merle wines. Situated on the east and northeast facing slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, Plaisir de Merle is bordered by the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. The vineyards for this wine, between 12 and 15 years of age, are all located on the Plaisir de Merle farm on south-eastern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain planted in weathered, decomposed granite soils where high mountain peaks shade the vineyards from the hot, late afternoon sun. This slows down ripening, resulting in wines with a very typically rich fruit complexity and well-ripened tannins.

The wine was matured in 20% new, 30% second-fill and 50% third-fill French oak barrels for 16 months. Finally, all the individual barrels were tasted and evaluated to select the final blend.