Groot Constantia Merlot 2018

Groot Constantia Merlot 2018

Groot Constantia Wine Estate is one of the oldest wine estates in the country. Situated in the Constantia Wine Appellation, the estate was responsible for a Golden Era of South African Wines in Europe. Constantia wine was sent to Napoleon on St Helena. It was found in the cellars of crowned heads and politicians in Europe. Famous writes praised it, Eyre, Dickens and Baudelaire.

Boela Gerber, Winemaker with Floricius Beukes, Vineyardist

Here we have a wine from vineyards planted in soil types which vary from deep red clay soil to red-brown loamy soil, both from granitic origin. The vineyards are trained on vertical shoot position trellis systems. Vineyard actions like pruning, canopy management and harvesting are done by hand by Floricius Beukes and his team. Pest control is done biologically, and soil health and weed control are managed by a selected mix of winter cover crops. Once hand harvested, the grapes are taken to th cellar where Boela Gerber and his team do the destalking and crushing. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with regular pump overs during the early stages of fermentation to facilitate maximum extraction. After fermentation, the wine lies on the skins for 2 weeks, during which time malolactic fermentation takes place. The maturation in French Oak Barrels 60% new, 20% 2nd and 20% 3rd fill 225 litre barrels for 15 months before blending
and bottling.

Groot Constantia Barrel Cellar

Pour
From a Bordeaux shaped bottle closed with natural cork, The label is the classic Groot Constantia one with an etching of the Manor House on it. In the glass, the colour is a rich bloodplum at the heart which pales out to ruby at the edges. Aromas are classic Merlot. Generous plums and black sweet fruited berries and cherry tobacco. The palate has a lovely line of acidity running through it from entry through to the long and gently waning aftertaste. Rich and generous, again packed with fruit. Merlot is probably the most ordered wine in restaurants and wine bars. Impressive wine again from Boela Gerber. While eminently drinkable now, it will reward you after a couple of years of cool cellaring.

Char grilled Rib Eye by Genevieve Taylor

Pair
The Groot Constantia Merlot 2018 is a perfect sipping wine, it is so round and soft. Brilliant with food. A beautiful Char-grilled Rib Eye by Genevieve Taylor is the answer. Her latest book Seared: The Ultimate Guide to Barbecuing Meat was recently released. [Buy it here – CLICK]. Well worth following her on her website. She is on Instagram and her website is https://www.genevievetaylor.co.uk.