Deep, youthful violet colour with a ruby rin. A typical Merlot nose with juicy plum & mulberry fruit, lifted spiciness & hints of dark chocolate & inkiness. The palate offers generous, ripe, pure Merlot fruit with refreshing acidity, structured yet silky tannins & pronounced length & minerality. Soil Type: Selected from 24 year old Merlot plantings situated on clay-rich Oakleaf, Vilafontes & Klapmuts soil. 40% vendage vert (green harvesting cluster removal) at 60% veraison to ensure concentration & even-ripening. Vinification: Grapes h&-picked & selected before crushing. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with partial uninnoculated fermentation. Daily remontahe & delistagefor gentle extraction. A portion of the wine was given extended maceration on the skins for five weeks before pressing. Malo-lactic fermentation proceeded in 300 litre French Oak Hogsheads. Maturation in 60% new Nevers French Oak, 40% second fill Nevers for 17 months before bottling. The Meerlust Merlot 2005 is a blend of 89% Merlot & 11% Cabernet Franc for structure. Grape: 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc