Jordan

1998 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.

Variety

100 % Merlot.

Vineyards

The Merlot was hand-harvested from east- and west-facing 6 - 12 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 18th – 23rd February 1998

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 second week of April where it underwent malo-lactic fermentation. After further racking it spent between 12 -14 months in new and second fill 225 litre French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

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

Analysis

Alc: 14.5%,  TA: 6.1g/l,  pH: 3.41,  RS: 2.5g/l