Plaisir de Merlot

Wine information: Established by the French Huguenots in 1693 on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains between Paarl and Franschhoek, Plaisir de Merle is a rare gem. A Distell showpiece, this 974 hectare estate in Simondium, Paarl, has earned international acclaim for its white and red wines. Winemaker Niel Bester attributes the benefits of working with great fruit coming from a very unique terrain and the invaluable input from his viticulture team. 100% Merlot. Upon completion of fermentation the wine was left on the skins for about eight days to macerate. The wine was racked off and malolactic fermentation was completed in the tanks and barrels. The wine was matured in 20% new, 40% second-fill and 40% third-fill French oak barrels for periods ranging from 11 to 16 months. Finally all the individual barrels were tasted and evaluated to select the final blend. Plaisir de Merle Merlot is ruby red in colour. The nose is teeming with violets, strawberries, blackberries and blackcurrant and a hint of mint. It is medium to full-bodied with a soft and velvety palate laced with ripe fruit and supported by vanilla oak flavours. Although accessible now, this wine has good maturation potential of three to five years. Made to complement most food dishes, this Merlot pairs well with venison, pot roasts and other lightly spiced meat dishes.

 
     

Enter your e-mail address and click the button to opt into the Fareham Wine Cellar mailing list: