Meerlust-Merlot 2017
Meerlust Estate is located in Stellenbosch , South Africa . The estate has been in the Myburgh family since 1756 and is now run by the eighth generation, Hannes Myburgh. Meerlust means 'pleasure of the sea' and refers to the mansion, situated on a granite outcrop just 5 kilometers from False Bay. The vineyards benefit from cooling ocean breezes and evening mists during the summer, which help lengthen the growing season and allow the grapes to ripen more slowly, a major factor in the resulting flavor intensity. The modern era of the estate begins in the 1960s when Nico Myburgh (Hannes' father) visits Bordeaux and discovers that the terroir of this region of France resembles that of the Eerste valley: both have a particular climate. , characterized by a refreshing sea breeze, as well as a soil structure composed of decomposed granite and clay. In 1984 he produced Rubicon for the first time, one of South Africa's first blended wines. The Myburgh family today cultivates Bordeaux grape varieties (Merlot on rich clay and Cabernet on well-drained granite) and Burgundian grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) planted in the highest part of the vineyard, where it cooler.
Meerlust Merlot 2017 is a blend of Merlot (87.5%), Cabernet Franc (8%) and Petit Verdot (4.5%) . The Merlot vine is around 27 years old, grown on clay-rich soil. After the manual harvest, the harvest is crushed and then transferred to vats where daily pumping over is carried out for gentle extraction. Malolactic conversion occurs in 300 liter French oak barrels. The wine is aged for 17 months in new French oak barrels (54%) and in second fill barrels (46%).
Grapes: 87.5% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Petit Verdot