Merlot

Beef, Lamb, Veal

The vineyards are in the Banghoek Valley, Stellenbosch. Elevation is 300-350m above sea level and is mostly south facing. This provides for moderate temperatures resulting in the late but slow ripening of the fruit. The soils are made up of leached, decomposed granite and sandstone. Gravel in the upper layers provides for good drainage in wet seasons and clay in the subsoil provides for moisture retention in dry ones. Vineyards are trained on a 7-wire hedge and cane pruned by hand. Average yield is 5-8tons/ha. 2022 harvest see an increase in yields from 2021. A very wet Spring preceding the harvest, with heavy rainfall at the end of October and end of November. This affected evenness of red cultivar flowering and veraison. A cool December with some rains over Christmas. Color extraction came easily, and reds were full bodied with good acidity. In general, a cool and dry Jan - March - optimal weather for picking. An exceptional quality harvest for Merlot.

The components were racked three times to enhance clarification and development. Blending took place after 20 months aging. The wine was bottled after a total of 22 months. Barrel composition: 13% new - 225L French oak; rest 2nd fill and third fill

Grapes were harvested by hand and berry sorted into stainless steel fermenters. Fermentation commenced spontaneously and was finished with a pure strain. Extraction was done with a combination of punch-down, rack-and-return and pump-over methods. Batches were gently pressed and immediately racked to small French oak barrels where they completed malolactic fermentation.

Wine has been a product of the Valley since the first white man settled there. Vine cuttings were sent to the first commander of the Cape, Jan van Riebeeck, from Germany’s Rhineland in 1654 but arrived rotten. Another batch, sent in the following year, proved to be the root and foundation of the wine industry. The first wine was produced on February 2, 1659 and Van Riebeeck wrote joyously in his diary: Today, praise be the Lord, wine was made for the first time from Cape grapes. From the beginning life was hard. Lions and leopards roamed the mountains, and living conditions were primitive. The first parties were simply given government provisions, the plants to make temporary homes, and much encouragement. The settlers, thrown back on their own ingenuity, courage and resourcefulness, created a hardy, independent and self-sufficient lifestyle based on their strong belief in God and the land. Banghoek was originally known as ‘De Bange Hoek’ which is how it was indicated on a transport map of Zeven Rivieren in the year 1704. Not only was it dangerously steep but there were gangs, escaped slaves, lions, leopards and other wild animals in the dense forest area. Travelers were wary of this area because many were attacked by these animals and slaves that escaped from prison and thrown into the river. Apparently you still find leopards in these surrounding mountains today. The road from Stellenbosch originally ran through Idasvallei over the farm Nazareth – today Glen Bourne – to the top of the neck at the farm Die Hel, whose name later became Rust and Vrede nowknown as Kylemore, over Bethlehem and through the Groot Drakenstein. The owner of Die Hel made his income from toll money and accommodation to farmers making their way to and from the Cape. Today Banghoek is a proud sub region of Stellenbosch. Zorgvliet Wines is proud to be part of this history. Pursuing this mission is a dedicated team of talented individuals. Knowledge and passion for exceptional, personalized service are the foundation upon which our experience is built. We believe each of us needs a sense of dignity, pride and satisfaction in what we do. Because satisfying our clients depends on the united efforts of many, we are most effective when we work together cooperatively, respecting each other’s contributions and importance.