Eagles' Nest - Merlot, Constantia - 2016 (750ml)

Wine Composition

Merlot 97%; Cabernet Franc 3%

Winemakers Comments

This wine exhibits a bright ruby color. The nose initially shows flavors of fresh raspberries and ripe red fruit. Undertones of darker fruit elements follow, including aromas of plums and dried dates. The palate is multi- layered, showcasing intense red fruit, mulberry and cigar flavors. This combines with the classic spice and savory character associated with Eagles’ Nest, and its unique terroir. The tannins are delicate and fine grained, leading to fantastic intensity and length on the finish. Although ready to drink now this wine will benefit from correct cellaring of 10 to 12+ years from vintage.

Awards

Decanter World Wine Awards | 93 Points 

Technical Analysis

Alcohol Percentage 

14.5%

TA

5.0 g/l 

pH

3.59

RS

2.5g/l

Cellar Techniques

The vineyard aspects range from North East to North West, against rugged mountain slopes. All grapes were hand-picked, hand sorted and crushed into medium sized open top fermenters. Pump-over’s were performed three to four times per day, these practices being determined by twice daily tastings of the tanks. Fermentation took 9 days to complete, after which the free run wine was drawn off and the skins pressed separately. The wine was then racked into first, second and third fill French oak barrels where malo-lactic fermentation took place. Six different cooperages were used, each specifically chosen to complement the different nuances of this very complex wine. During maturation, the wine was racked twice. After 18 months in barrel the best barrels were racked to tank and blended to create a harmonious finished product. A light filtration preceded bottling in January 2018.

Winemaker

Stuart Botha

Winery

Eagles' Nest, located on the crest of Constantia Nek pass, is nestled at the foot of the awe inspiring Table Mountain. This pristine and boutique family owned vineyard (38 Ha in size) has in recent years gained a striking reputation for both its beauty and award winning wines.
Uniquely characteristic of its wines is its signature of finesse, derived from the cooler climate conditions its vines are exposed to as a result of its elevation and close proximity to the oceanic body that is False Bay, thus delivering very distinctive wines not found elsewhere in South Africa.
Quality and consistency is paramount at Eagles' Nest. Our unique terroir, combined with meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and cellar, yields wines that are the epitome of elegance and balance.