Ernie Els Wines Major Series Merlot 2017

TASTING NOTES:

• Appearance: Dark red.
• Nose: Ripe plums and earthy notes supported by a core of minerality and fleshed out with ripe strawberry, forest underfloor, hint of chocolate, and a deepening of dark blackberry laced with a hint caramel and oak spice.
• Mouth: The savoury palate is coated in sweet attractive oak with a distinct salty edge. Medium-bodied, fresh yet serious with a good line of acidity.

APPELLATION: Stellenbosch

VINEYARD: Ernie Els Wines

GRAPES: 94% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc

AGEING: The batches were pressed and transferred to a combination of old and new French oak for maturation separately for 14 months (micro-vinified) before blending and eventual bottling. This Merlot will age well for 5 years or more.

PREPARATION: The hand-picked bunches arrived at the winery in the morning, and were then sorted and destemmed. Whole berries were fermented in open-top tanks as well as in barrels with intermittent pump-overs and punch downs to ensure a balance between flavour, colour and tannin extraction from the skins. All ferments were meticulously monitored during fermentation to ensure that all the natural aromas and flavours were preserved and highlighted as required. After primary fermentation, some batches were left on the skins for extended maceration as required.

PAIRING: Beef Wellington or a good leg or shoulder of lamb but hold the mint sauce.

ABV: 14.5%