Peak Season 2026 · Order early for smooth delivery, wherever you are in SA
Vintage 2023 · Stellenbosch
A welcoming wine. Plush plum and ripe mulberry are the first lift, followed by mocha, dark chocolate, and a soft floral note — violets, dried rose.
Generous and round. The fruit fills the front of the palate; the tannins are silky and well-resolved, the oak present but quiet. There is a sweet-spice character in the mid-palate — cocoa, cinnamon, a hint of vanilla.
Long and velvet-smooth. The plum lingers; the tannin holds shape without ever drying. A wine that rewards a second glass.
Roast duck, mushroom risotto, beef stew, a herb-crusted rack of lamb. Equally happy alongside a board of camembert and ripe pears.
Our wines begin in the vineyards of Lourensford Estate, on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. Here, mountain soils, elevation, slope orientation and the cooling influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean create ideal conditions for grapes with freshness, character and depth.
Our Merlot comes from vines planted in 2001 on the south-western-facing slopes of the Helderberg, at an elevation of 168 metres above sea level. The vineyard grows in Tukulu soils, and its slope orientation allows the vines to benefit from warm afternoon sunshine as the fruit ripens.
Leaves are selectively removed around the bunches during the ripening period. This improves airflow and gives the fruit measured exposure to sunlight, while reducing excessive green pepper notes. The result is Merlot with softer tannins, fuller fruit flavour and a more rounded character.
The 2023 Merlot was picked a week after the Shiraz, in the first days of March, after a long, warm ripening. The fruit came in dense, with sugar high and acid surprisingly bright — a combination that doesn't come every year.
Ten months in seasoned French oak followed — used barrels chosen for their gentleness. The wine is generous by nature; we wanted to dress it, not disguise it.
Restaurants, retailers and distributors — fair allocations, honest margins, and a winemaker who actually picks up the phone.
To enter, please confirm you are 18 years or older. We promote the responsible enjoyment of our wines.
Not for sale to persons under the age of 18.