Groote Post Merlot 2012

A wine that is a product of our never ending quest to perfect our winemaking craft. A hint of smoked beef and mint on the nose. An explosion of blackberries on the palate with well integrated tannins from the gentle oak process.

100% Merlot

Vines planted: 1993
Soil: Hutton & Oakleaf
Clones: MO: 181 & 192 B
Irrigation: Supplementary
Trellising: 7 wire Perold
Elevation: 300m

Harvested at 24° - 26° B with an average yield of 8 tons/ha.

When it comes to Merlot selection - quality is the name of the game. Careful vineyard block choice is followed by meticulous grape selection in the vineyards and on the sorting table. The grapes undergo a maceration of 3 - 4 days before inoculation with yeast. Fermentation is followed by another 3 weeks on the skins. Before going into barrel, a final wine selection ensures that only the highest quality wine ends up in the bottle.

Wood maturation: 10% new oak barrels, 70% second fill barrels, 20% older fill barrels- French Oak only