| Grape | Merlot |
| Style | Dry, Red, Medium Bodied, Rich, Elegant, Soft, Ripe Red Fruit, Red Beries, Spices, Olive Leaves, Smooth, Chocolate |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Volume | 75cl |
| ABV | 14.5% |
| Dietary | Vegetarian, Vegan |
This beautiful merlot has a ruby colour with a purple hue. It is rounded, soft, rich, elegant and well balanced wine with notes of ripe red fruit and spicy nuances in the taste of olives with the finish being smooth. The aroma of wine is made up of notes of black and red berries, chocolate, spices and olive leaves. The wine should be served with roast beef and lamb, as well as with feathered game.
About the Producer
South African wine production has long been a political endeavor, beginning with the first plantings with the Dutch East India Company, to economic protests in the 20th Century over apartheid. It has only been recently that South African wines have been taken seriously in the international market. It is now one of the top ten wine-producing regions in the world and is known for producing wines of quality and value.
Vineyard and Winery
Linton Park Wines is a historic South African wine producer located in the Wellington district of the Western Cape. Situated on the slopes of the Groenberg Mountain, the estate is known for producing "grapes of distinction" in a unique, cool-microclimate. Located in Wellington, 500 meters above sea level. The vineyards benefit from cool breezes, making them one of the highest vineyards in South Africa and ideal for slow-ripening grapes. The 294-hectare farm has 100 hectares under vine, with soils comprising decomposed, high-mineral granite (Oakleaf, Grenrosa, and Tukulu formations). The winery focuses on sustainability, with a high-trellis system (7-strand hedge) for vertical shoot positioning and hand-harvesting at dawn to maintain fruit quality.
Interesting Facts
Dry red wine "Reserve" Merlot is made from grapes grown in their own vineyards economy. Vineyards were defeated in 1699 and have a generic name "De Slange Rivier" ("Snake River"). Cabernet Sauvignon plot with an area of 84 hectares located on the slopes of Mount Groenberg, which is in the valley of Wellington. The climate is one of the most mountainous areas of South Africa differs cool and moderate winds. The average temperature in this vineyard at 6 ° C lower than in the valley, so the grapes ripen slowly and evenly. Thanks to the nearby mountains, the area of soil rich in minerals and granite inclusions. Low yields allows you to get the fruit with a high concentration of sugar, color pigments and flavored.
The grapes for the creation of "Reserve" Merlot is grown on a separate site, bearing the name of "River Garden". The average age of the vines Merlot is 13 years. The grapes are harvested in February, by hand, at dawn. Bunches free from ridges and milled. Maceration and temperature controlled (25 ° C), fermentation in steel vats lasts 10-14 days. The wort is stirred twice a day. After fermentation, the wort is compressed and sent to malolactic fermentation for 2-6 weeks. Matured wine is one year in new French oak barrels. Then the wine is placed in oak barrels previously used 4 times, maturation for 12 months to round body wines. Further aging in old barrels gives the wine spicy olive flavors. Followed by stabilization and filtration.
Wine "Reserve" Merlot won a gold medal at the competition "International Michelangelo Awards, 2009", the silver medal at "Veritas, 2009" and "AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge, 2011".