Simelia Merlot 2014
Origin: Wellington
Bottling Date: 11 July 2016
Release Date: February 2017
Total Production: 3,135 bottles
2014 Growing Season
Vineyards
PLANTED 1996
SOIL Decomposed Granite with traces of Table Mountain Sandstone
Vinification and Ageing
Barrel Matured Red Wine
WOOD MATURATION
New French Oak | 1st and 2nd fill French Oak
ANALYSIS:
Alcohol 14,5 % vol, Residual Sugar 2.4 gm/l, Total Acidity 5.90 gm/l, pH 3.57 The clusters were hand-picked into 18-kg crates and then selected and sorted by hand before destem, and finally softly crushed. All grapes come exclusively from our own single vineyard block situated on our farm at 250m altitude above sea level. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 26-30°C for 10 days, followed by 10-15 days of maceration on the skins. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in French oak barrels, 10% new and 90% second, third and fourth filled barrels. The wine then remained in barrels, in temperature-controlled cellars for 30 months. After bottling, the wine aged a further 6 months prior to release.