Jordan

1996 Jordan Merlot

Description

Spectacular panoramic views of Stellenbosch and Cape Town, cool hillside vineyards planted to classic varieties, and a modern family-run winery have combined to produce distinctive wines displaying the ripe concentrated fruity accessibility of the New World, with the complex elegance of classic wine styles.

Variety

100% Merlot

Vineyards

The Merlot was hand-harvested from east- and north-facing 10 year old vineyards, situated on decomposed granite soils. The vineyards were unirrigated to ensure smaller berries with concentrated fruit flavours

Harvest Date

The grapes were hand-harvested between 16 - 28 February 1996 at between 22.8º and 24º Balling

Winemaking

Fermented in overhead retort-shaped, stainless steel fermentors at 28-32ºC. Pump-overs done twice daily over the fermenting cap. A small portion received extended maceration while the remainder was pressed immediately after fermentation. The wine was racked into barrels during the first week of March where it underwent malo-lactic fermentation. After further racking it spent between 7-16 months in new and second fill 225 litre French oak barrels

Tasting Notes

100% Merlot. A full-bodied wine with rich, plummy flavours and soft rounded tannins. The full fruitiness of the variety integrates well with the toasty coffee flavours of French oak.

Analysis

Alc: 12.89%,  TA: 5.5g/l,  pH: 3.61,  RS: 2.4g/l