Vondeling, 2007 Cabernet Merlot.

A classic blend with abundant flavours of cherries and ripe red fruits with cedar nuances.

Vineyards: The cabernet sauvignon vineyards are 9 years old. They are planted in well-weathered granite soils on southwest- and east-facing slopes. The merlot vineyards are 8 years old; some are planted on the granite-derived slopes and others in the alluvial valley soils.

The grapes were picked between 25-26°Balling, with flavours of ripe raspberries and red fruits. Hand picking enabled us to get the best fruit to the cellar.

Winemaking: The chilled fruit from the previous day went through a preliminary bunch sorting, after which bunches were destemmed and berry sorting took place.

Sections of fruit were left as whole berries and others were crushed. This resulted in a much broader spectrum of fruit flavours and also a softer, more elegant wine in the end. During fermentation, hand plunging was used as the extraction method. After fermentation, extended maceration on skins for up to a month took place. The wine was transferred to barrels and the skins were basket pressed.

Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel and the wine was then racked every 5 months.

Tasting Note: Intense maraschino cherries, sweet cassis, juicy ripe red fruits, sandalwood and cedar are just a few of the abundance of flavours pouring from the glass. Balance is the beauty of this wine.

Dense mouth-covering tannins are backed up by an array of fruit flavours which will keep you going back for the next glass.