Merlot
Protea Merlot 2021
Warm and friendly on the nose with pleasant fruitcake, black berries, light spice and oak aromas as well as dark chocolate too. That same unfussy, engaging charm is found in the silky smooth and rounded entry. Ample appeal with tasty red and black fruit notes: plum, mulberry and soft Agen prune, Christmas cake and gentle spice highlights round out the palate. A wine that is as comfortable as a favourite pair of slippers … but there is a good frame to support the fruit, with seamless integration of oak and tannin and balanced, succulent ripeness. There is a deeper, dark chocolate and cocoa nuance which elevates the wine from the mundane. Equally impressive is the length of flavour.
Protea Merlot 2020
Seductive dark berry compote with attractive spicy highlights on the nose.
Rounded, plush and appealing on entry, delivering what the nose promised: plum, mulberry, cherry and blackberry fruit sprinkled with spice. Soft textured and velvety smooth, the wine has a good frame and backbone. Beautifully poised and integrated, the flavours linger on a long, rewarding finish. Packed with appeal by good structure and body.
Protea Merlot 2019
Vibrant black cherry and plum aromas with a hint of tomato plant and dark chocolate. The wines has instant appeal with soft, squish, succulent dark fruit with a light tobacco leaf edge. Ample plum and cherry with spice highlights and deeper earth- and cocoa notes below. Softly textured but with a supportive structure and frame. Lovely, generous ripe-fruited finish.
In the Vineyard
Thanks to cooler to moderate weather conditions throughout the season and especially during harvest, some very good wines can be expected from the 2021 vintage. Water resources were replenished and good vine growth, bunch numbers and berry sizes were seen. With the slower ripening, the grapes developed exceptional flavour and colour. The cooler weather gave winemakers and producers the opportunity to harvest the grapes at optimum ripeness with pH, acidity and sugar levels well balanced.
Winemaking
The grapes used to produce this fruit forward, elegant style of wine was selected from different growing regions to ensure complexity. Alcoholic fermentation was completed in Stainless steel tanks and vinification process was conducted elegantly to preserve fruit components of the wine. After pressing, malolactic fermentation was completed in tanks. The wine was aged on a selection of french oak staves for approximately 12 months.
Varietal
100% Merlot
In the Vineyard
The 2020 vintage yielded a better crop with lager yields than 2019 vintage thanks to good winter conditions. Good Winter rainfall was supplemented by post-harvest irrigation to produce healthy strong vines. Moderate summer temperatures during ripening contributed to good flavour retention in the grape. The 2020 vintage overall promises wines which are full of concentration and intense flavour.
Winemaking
The grapes used to produce this fruit forward; elegant style of wine was selected from specifically selected growing regions to ensure complexity. Alcoholic fermentation was completed in stainless steel tanks and vinification process was conducted with care to preserve the fruit components in the wine. After pressing, malolactic fermentation was completed in the tank. The wine was finally aged on a selection of French oak staves for approximately 12 months.
Varietal
100% Merlot
In the Vineyard
Although we recorded moderate to good rainfall, some of the vineyards were still struggling to recover from the 3-4 year drought the Western Cape had recently experienced. As a result, lower yields were obtained with a bit of uneven ripening because of weather conditions. Despite this, the smaller berries have a greater concentration of flavours. Wines with good acidity and are characteristic of in the 2019 vintage.
Winemaking
Grapes were selected from different growing regions to suit the fruit driven, elegant style of the Protea Merlot. Grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks whereafter it was pressed and malolactic fermentation completed. The wine was aged on a selection of French oak staves for approximately 12 months.
Varietal
100% Merlot
Protea - Dry Rosé
Subtle coral hue. Abundant red berry fruit on the nose with dusty raspberry, cherry and a light berry perfume.
Protea - Pinot Grigio
Stone fruit, peach and lemon aromas are overlaid by a gentle perfume.
Protea - Chenin Blanc
Appealing nose of nectarine, white peach and pear drop.
Protea - Sauvignon Blanc
Gentle aromas of stone fruit, nectarine and pear drops with a light brush of flint.
Protea - Chardonnay
Appealing stone fruit and citrus - grapefruit and oranges - whiffs on the nose.
Protea - Merlot
Bright blue and black berry fruit aromas with a light leafy brush and cocoa nuances.
Protea - Shiraz
Appealing plum, black fruit and spice aromas with a soft smoky nuance.
Protea - Cabernet Sauvignon
Bold blueberry and ripe raspberry aromas.