Stellenbosch Merlot

Please note: Award stickers are applied at the producer's discretion and may not be present on all bottles.

Crushed and de-stemmed fruit, pumped over during ferment.

This vintage was impacted by the fourth year of the ongoing drought in the region. The 2017 Winter was cold and dry, followed by a dry Spring and Summer, with bouts of unusual weather. A number of thunder storms resulted in a late onset of additional vigour in the vineyards. Unsettled weather and wind during flowering, along with a freak hail storm and low levels of soil moisture decreased yields by 20% to 50%. The harvest began closer to its average start date and the smaller berries and bunches yielded lower juice volumes per ton. The lower yields resulted in the wines showing excellent concentration and body, producing rich, robust reds and fruit forward, expressive whites and rosé.

Aged 15 months in 20% new and 80% 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th fill French 225L barrels.