Carmen Stevens Merlot 2021

Carmen Stevens Merlot 2021

Winemaking

The fruit was handpicked at optimal phenolic ripeness. All fruit is bunch sorted and fermented with a pure yeast culture. The wine batches are all fermented separately and blended after 12 months. The wines are then barreled again for a good marriage of the different components for an additional 4 months. All these wines were matured in 13 % new French oak barrels to complement rather than add to the final taste.

Tasting Notes

The nose reveals a layered spectrum of ripe cherry and blackberry fruit, complemented by fresh eucalyptus and minty aromas. The palate is full and ripe with concentrated flavors, balanced by toasted oak and a sweet mid-palate impression. Fresh acidity keeps the wine lively and interesting through the long, smooth finish. This Merlot combines intensity and complexity, showcasing true varietal character with depth and elegance. This wine reflects meticulous vineyard management and expert winemaking that balances fruit ripeness with freshness and structure.

Analysis

Alcohol: 14.5 %
Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/l
Total Acidity: 5.6 g/l
pH: 3.73
Wine of Origin: Paarl

Vineyard Notes

The CS Merlot 2021 is a blend of fruit from two vineyard blocks grown in the Paarl region. The aim in the vineyards is to ensure the right amount of sunlight and light reaches the bunches for the best fruit expression in the bottle. This is achieved by exposing newly formed bunches from just after fruit-set to indirect sunlight. The balance between the leaf-canopy and fruit load is of utmost importance for Merlot to ensure good fruit maturity and phenolic ripeness at harvest.