Merlot

Our 2005 vintage received the trophy for Best Merlot in the World at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in England.

OUR WINEMAKER WAS RECOGNISED AS THE DINERS CLUB WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR IN 2005. IT WAS FOR HIS MERLOT.

A History

How has our Merlot managed to pick up so many awards recently? Try it and you'll understand.

Winemaker, Carl Schultz, individually tasting and hand-selecting bunches for his 2005 Merlot.

Name:	Merlot
Vintage:	2007
Awards:	Veritas Gold (2009) 2005 Vintage: Trophy for Best Merlot in the World at IWSC(2008), England 2004 Vintage: Earned Carl the Diner's Club WInemaker of the Year award (2005), RSA
Production:
Barrel Ageing:	17 months in 80% new, and 20% second fill French Oak
Maturation:	Up to 6 years from vintage
Alcohol:	14.56% by volume
Residual Sugar:	2.3 g/l
Total Acid:	5.9 g/l
PH:	3.56
Food Matching Game, lamb and beef dishes of all kinds.
Tasting Note A silky and elegant food wine, with lingering flavours suggesting roasted spice, prosciutto, and orchards of plum. This year, the IWSC in England adjudged Hartenberg’s 2005 Merlot to be the finest example of this cultivar in the world.
Independent Tasting Note “Aromas of viloets and sugared plum contrast with its slightly warming, austere palate.” - Platters (2010)

It’s a good thing you don’t have to understand wine to enjoy it.

Here’s what went on anyway, before this Merlot was poured into its bottle:

Each vineyard was specially selected, and each bunch of grapes was hand-picked early in the morning.

The grapes were cold soaked for two days, then the juice inoculated with a French-sourced yeast. The must was fermented and pumped over four times daily, followed by an extended maceration for fourteen days, and a fractional pressing.

After settling, the wine went into French oak for malo.

If you’re a little confused about what all this means, it means the guys who make this are all a little bit cuckoo for making wine, and they won’t let anyone or anything get in the way of making the best one they can. In the world. In fact, the universe.

And that's all you need to know. Except where to find the corkscrew.

Roast beef is perfect with a Merlot.

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