Vergelegen Reserve Merlot 75 cl

Vergelegen Reserve Merlot 75 cl Description

Features

• Vergelegen is one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa - established in 1700 by Adrian van set Stel, Governor of the Dutch colony. Situated in Somerset West at the slopes of the Hottentots Holland mountain range, 'Vergelegen' translates as 'situated far away' - historically a two-day wagon ride from Cape Town.
• Vergelegen is an iconic estate covering over 3,000 hectares, of which 148 hectares are vineyards ranging in altitude from 140m to 310m above sea level. All wines are made with grapes from the estate vineyards.
• Vergelgen estate and its wines have earned more than 200 awards, including winning the coveted Chateau Pichon Longueville Trophy twice for the Best Bordeaux Blend at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
• Ripe plum colour with a ruby rim. The nose shows ripe fruit flavours, black cherries, plum, spice and a touch of chocolate. The ripeness of the fruit is balanced by fresh fruit acidity and soft wood/fruit tannins. The aftertaste is long and lasting.
• Varietal composition: 86% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Accessible now but will continue to improve over the next decade.

Product DescriptionAward-winning winemaker André van Rensburg's 2016 vintage at Vergelegen was his nineteenth on the estate. With an unwavering attention to detail and a hunger for excellence, creativity and innovation, he is a self-proclaimed 'perfectionist'. The combination of a passionate longstanding team, solid determination and dogged enthusiasm ensure that Vergelegen's winemaking philosophy is adhered to: there must be harmony between the old and the new. Since 1700, Vergelegen has been home to some of the world's great explorers and visionaries, who each in their own way have helped shape Vergelegen to what it is today: a world-class Estate. Vergelegen is renowned for producing elegant, handcrafted wines and has a widely respected reputation for environmental and sustainable practices. On purchasing the Estate in 1987, Management drew up a detailed master plan for the development of the vineyards including an intensive climatic and soil analysis which was conducted over two years. The first of the new vines were planted in 1989 and this was the start of Vergelegen's renaissance. The unique combination of all the elements that make up the terroir of Vergelegen is undeniably key to the production of Vergelegen's signature style of wines. The growing climate is mild due to the close proximity to the chilly Atlantic Ocean at False Bay six kilometres away, with vineyard sites range in altitude between 140m and 310m above sea level and slopes facing north to north-west and south to south-east. Boasting a rich array of 21 soil types, some of which are among the most ancient agricultural soils in the world; vines have mainly been established on Clovelly, Glenrosa and Pinedene soils. These soils are characterised by a high clay content, ensuring good water retention during the critical early-summer ripening stage. The design of the winery is based on principles of gentle handling, visual control, maximum insulation capacity and natural gravity flow. Vergelegen is planted with classic varietals, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Chardonnay for the whites and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Shiraz for the reds. Aside from excellence in the production of its wines, Vergelegen has been acknowledged as the South Africa's first Wine and Biodiversity Champion with the largest private environmental project in South Africa as well as having won a host of Wine Tourism and Hospitality awards.