2015 DeMorgenzon Maestro Red

This wine has notes of cassis with rich, red fruit, dried herbs, perfume and plums on the nose. The palate is soft and silky with integrated flavors of cigar box and black fruit.

Winemaker: Carl van der Merwe

Varietal blend: 

42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Appellation: Stellenbosch

Alcohol content: 14%

TA   5.6 g/l

Ph    3.6

RS   1.8 g/

VINEYARDS: These vineyards are situated on the farm DeMorgenzon in the Stellenboschkloof. Soils are mostly weathered granite which gives the resultant wines a natural exuberance and youthful vigour. The trellised vineyards are managed to ensure natural high acidity and full flavor concentration.

VINTAGE: 2015 was one of the earliest vintages on record and careful attention had to be paid in the vineyards to ensure ripe fruit was harvested. This was achieved through effective crop thinning and selective harvest. Soil moisture levels had to be managed to extend the ripening as late as possible. Disease pressure was low and fruit health and fruit concentration was excellent. The earlier vintage resulted in more prominent tannins, hence the extraction in the winery was adjusted accordingly.

VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: Fruit was carefully hand sorted and naturally fermented, whole berry. Post fermentation maceration was allowed for two weeks, followed by gentle pressing. Maturation was for a total of 18 months in French oak, in a selection of 300 litre casks and 3000 litres. The wine was bottled with minimal fining and a minimal filtration.