Lanzerac - Merlot, Stellenbosch - 2021 (750ml)

Wine Composition

100% Merlot

Winemakers Comments

This appetizing wine has everything a Merlot-lover could want, and more. This Merlot has an excellent deep red color, with ripe red berries, cocoa, slight mint and chocolate on the nose. On the palate, the wine shows a well-balanced tannin structure, rich body with fruit and a lingering aftertaste. 

Awards

John Platter | 4 stars

Technical Analysis

Alcohol Percentage

14.26%

TA

6.4 g/l

pH

3.51

RS

2.9 g/l

Cellar Techniques

When the grapes arrive at the cellar by tractor, the bunches are hand sorted before destemmend, the loose berries undergo a further hand sorting before it is lightly crushed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with regular pump-overs (2 times a day) being done to extract color and flavor. The Merlot was fermented dry on the skins before pressing. The free run wine was kept apart from the press fraction. A portion of the Merlot wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrels, whilst the remaining wine underwent malolactic fermentation in tank. A Selection of new, 2nd fill and 3rd fill French oak barrels were used to matured the Merlot for 12 months. Regular rackings resulted in excellent integration between wood, fruit and tannins. 

Winemaker

Name - Wynand Lategan

Winery

For centuries, Lanzerac has been a true icon of South African Winelands. This graceful estate has played host to untold numbers of Stellenbosch residents, as well as visitors from home and abroad, for more than 300 years. Lanzerac's recorded history began in 1692 when then Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, granted a piece of land in the pristine Jonkershoek Valley to Isaac Schrijver, an enterprising.

Originally named Schoongezicht, Lanzerac changed hands several times, with each owner contributing to the legacy and heritage of this unique property. While wine has been an integral part of this Estate since its beginning Lanzerac also holds significant historical value with all of the historical buildings representing distinctive examples of Cape Dutch architecture.

Today the Estate covers an area of about 150 hectares, of these, 50 hectares consist of vineyards. Noble cultivars that include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot grace a variety of soil types and micro-climates.