Anthonij Rupert Merlot 2017
Type: Red
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschoek Valley
Grape Variety: 100% Merlot
Rating: 95+ Robert Parker Points (2018)
Climate: Warm continental climate
Terroir: Vines grow on decomposed granite soil. Yield: 6.8ton/ha.
Winemaking: Grapes are hand-picked, placed in small lug boxes, and transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. The whole berries are double-sorted in the cellar using optical sorting before being gravity-fed into wood fermenters. Each batch is cold-soaked for a few days and then gradually brought up to temperature, where fermentation occurs naturally. After fermentation, the skins can be macerated for 5 days. The wines were matured in 50% new French wood for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered and bottle-aged for an additional three years. The grapes come primarily from our Franschhoek vineyards, with a small percentage coming from our Groenekloof vineyards
Color: Elegant red
Nose: Bold purple plums, black cherries and perfume with subtle edge of cut flower stems on the nose
Palate: The palate is taut, needing a bit of time and air to reveal its strata of spicy purple and blackberry fruits. There’s an oak edge which lends both spice and structure to the wine while acidity adds freshness and piquancy. Savoury, tangy and tasty with a long finish
About the Winery:
Anthonij Rupert Wine was founded on the farm, L’Ormarins in Franschhoek. Originally owned by the late Anthonij Rupert, the farm was taken over by his brother Johann Rupert in 2003 and the company was renamed after him.
Johann Rupert constructed a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, catapulting the farm into a prestigious wine estate and sprawling enterprise.
Wines are produced under 5 brands: Protea wines, Terra del Capo Italian varietal wines, Cape of Good Hope site-specific wines and the Anthonij Rupert flagship range.
