The WHALEHAVEN MERLOT 2007 has achieved the accolade of a gold medal at the latest Veritas Awards. The vintage is made of 92% Merlot and a mere 8% of Petit Verdot.
This is the second year that the merlot has been recognised. Last year, upon receiving a Swiss International Award, practically all the stock was taken on immediate order by Wine of the Month Club. We believe that this year is as exceptional as the last, and that we will soon sell out on this incredible value gold medal winner.
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TASTING NOTES
The wine has sweet ripe red cherry fruit with hints of liquorice and chocolate. This is a medium bodied wine with smoky,velvety tannins. Well balanced with a long lingering palate. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years.
ANALYSIS
pH 3.91
Total acidity 5.6 g/L
Residual sugar 2.3 g/L
Alcohol 14%
VINIFICATION
Following two days of cold maceration on skins, fermentation was completed reaching temperatures of 25 °C – 28 °C. The wine was then matured for approximately 15 months in small French oak barrels, 60% in 1st new oak and 40% in 2nd and 3rd fill.
THE TERROIR
The grapes from this Merlot come from the Bottega Family’s Da Capo Vineyards in Sir Lowry’s Pass in the Helderburg.
The Soils: Granite/Tukulu (decomposed granite)/Table Mountain Sandstone
The Aspect : South and South West
The Area: 8 Hectares
The Trellising: Vertical Shoot Positioning, Irrigation Drip
The Predominant wind : SE Summer/NW Winter
The Date of planting: 1999
The Clones: MO343 and MO12 on Ruggeri 140, MO181 & MO192 on R110, MO3 on 101-14.
The Date of picking: 10th March 2007
The Balling at picking: 26.3 °
