Hartenberg winemaker, Carl Schultz, won Diners Club "Winemaker of the Year" for the very fine 2004 Estate Merlot. This achievement was bettered when the 2005 Estate Merlot was adjudged the World's Best at the 2008 International Wine and Spirit Competition.
TASTING NOTES:
Silky & elegant, with a long-lasting flavour, expect roasted spice, prosciutto and orchards of plum.
Green harvesting, vineyard selection and blind, vineyard parcel selection tasting after the harvest ensure that the wine represents the very best of the vintage. Hand-picked, de-stemmed and lightly crushed. The grapes were cold-soaked for 2 days and then inoculated with French-sourced yeast. The must was fermented between 24 & 26 degrees Celsius and pumped over 4 times daily. An extended maceration for 10 days was followed by a fractional pressing. (Free run and some press juice were blended at a later stage). After settling, the wine went to 100 % French oak for malolactic fermentation.
Only 3 barrels produced.
GRAPES:
Merlot