The soils from this warm Compagniesdrift north facing slope on the Meerlust Estate are predominantly formed from weathered granite. The wines originating from this granitic hilltop are expressive and bold in structure, mainly due to their coarse gravelly texture and sufficient soil depth to promote long and even ripening. The Quarry – the extremely rocky terrain consisting of greywacke with interbedded shales soils provides a unique substrate for vines. Shallow rooted vines on this cool and windswept foot slope leads to wines with characteristic red and black berry fruits with exceptional length, detail, and precision.

The 2020 post-harvest period was characterised by very hot and dry conditions, which led to early leaf fall, especially in early ripening cultivars. The winter rainfall started late, but regular cold fronts contributed almost 100 mm more precipitation than in the previous season. Soil profiles were well saturated, and farm dams returned to pre-drought levels.

The budding period was particularly cool and wet, and low soil temperatures delayed bud break by up to 14 days. Despite sustained cool conditions, the flowering and fruit set periods were moderate and ideal. Véraison followed the seasonal trend and was generally up to 14 days later than the previous season.

Ripening was consistently about 10-14 days later than the previous year, and the ripening period was very moderate. This resulted in good hang times, minimal harvesting pressure and allowed for optimum picking. Although yields are lower, the grape composition and preliminary wine quality of the 2021 vintage showed immediate promise. The wines have intensity and freshness coupled with a fine tannin structure.

Meerlust Estate Merlot 2021, WO Stellenbosch, 14.28% Abv. 

 2.71g/l | RS 6.33g/l TA | 3.48pH

This stunning 2021 vintage is a pure 100% Merlot (some years can include snippets of Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc) made up of several select parcels that were fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 litre oak barrels. After six months in barrel, the final components were carefully selected and blended before being put back into barrel for a further 12 months in 40% new French oak before bottling. This long cool vintage really lends itself to the more classically leaning old world style of Meerlust’s wines, and this Merlot is beautifully distinguished revealing aromatics of dusty granite, damson plums, black currants, black tea, wet tobacco, and sweet herbs that offer a subtle sapidity to the plush alluring nose. Delicately saline reductive black cherry notes follow on to the palate that is broad, luxurious, and creamy with a medium bodied density but also the most seductively elegant fine-grained tannins. This seamlessly complete expression of Merlot must rank among the finest the winery has produced to date with a notably fresh vein of acidity wonderfully integrated into the plush, chocolatety, Pomerol-styled finish. Drink now until 2035+.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

The wines of Meerlust Estate are imported into the UK by Maison Marques et Domaines (MMD) and retails for circa £26pb.