Durbanville Hills Merlot 2019
Durbanville Hills is in the small Durbanville Wine Appellation and is situated at the end of a little valley which runs down to Table Bay and the cold Benguela Current. The winery itself is on a small promontory overlooking Table Mountain, the Bay and Robben Island to the West.
Martin Moore, the founding Cellarmaster
Martin Moore, the founding Cellarmaster had had over 20 vintages there. His two specialists are Kobus Gerber who, with his team is responsible for white and sparkling wines, while Wilhelm Coetzee and his team take care of the red wines.
A fine bunch of Merlot ripening on the vine
The Merlot grapes for this wine came from vineyards planted between 1985 and 1990. They were hand harvested just before shrivelling. Once in the cellar, they were destemmed and crushed and allowed 24 hours of skin contact before fermentation. During the time, soft colour and tannin extraction took place with regular timer regulated pump over cycles. After pressing the Merlot was oak matured for 12 months using predominantly French oak, utilizing a small percentage new oak together with older wood as well as wood alternatives. This is done to prevent over wooding and by doing so preserving the elegance of the fine cool climate fruit. The wine was then prepared for bottling.
Wilhelm Coetzee Durbanville Hills Red Wine Specialist
Pour
From a Bordeaux shaped bottle, closed with a screw cap. The label is the classical lozenge shape with an etching depicting Table Mountain with vineyards before it. In the glass, the wine is bloodplum in colour at the heart which pales out to ruby at the edges. The aromas are so Merlot. Plums, blueberries and the oak with its concomitant spice and vanilla. The palate from entry is fresh, rich and generous. Medium of body, it has all the flavours of sweet berry fruits. The tannins are soft and silky and very approachable. The aftertaste lingers and wanes gently. Eminently drinkable now, it will reward you with a year or two of cool cellaring.
Ina Paarman’s Lamb Sosaties
Pair
The Durbanville Hills Merlot 2019 is excellent as a glass on its own at sundown or waiting for the braai embers to come to the right heat. Of course, a great food wine. It loves lamb in almost any form. Especially good with Ina Paarman’s Lamb Sosaties, stuffed with apricots. Click HERE for her recipe.
Ina Paarman – Queen of the South African Kitchen
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