Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.0%
Residual Sugar 3.5 g/L
pH 3.45
Total Acidity 5.8 g/L
Calories (estimated) 120 kcal / glass
150ml glass120 kcal
750ml bottle600 kcal
Grape Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Cabernet Sauvignon56%
Merlot36%
Petit Verdot6%
Malbec2%
Drinking Window 10 to 15 years from vintage
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Decomposed granite
Grapes Picked February-March 2018
Fermentation Vessels Stainless Steel
Maceration 7 days
Oak Aging 20 months
Oak Details 35% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak35%
Second Fill Oak65%
Third Fill Oak65%
Oak Types French
Bottling Date January 2020
Extended Maceration Yes
Fining Agents Egg White (Albumen)
Production Details This vintage was impacted by the fourth year of the ongoing drought in the region. The 2017 Winter was cold and dry, followed by a dry Spring and Summer, with bouts of unusual weather. A number of thunder storms resulted in a late onset of additional vigour in the vineyards. Unsettled weather and wind during flowering, along with a freak hail storm and low levels of soil moisture decreased yields by 20% to 50%. The harvest began closer to its average start date and the smaller berries and bunches yielded lower juice volumes per ton. The lower yields resulted in the wines showing excellent concentration and body, producing rich, robust reds and fruit forward, expressive whites and rosé. The John X Merriman is a powerful wine that rewards aging. In its youth the wine is worth decanting and expresses cassis, black currant and dark fruits complemented with cigar tobacco and sour cherry notes. As the wine ages and its fine grained tannins soften a softer more savoury palate develops revealing wonderful drinkability and tertiary complexity.
▸ Sources (1)
Producer Information
Website
Address
Rustenberg Wines, Rustenberg Road, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Phone
+27 21 809 1200
Email
Owner
Barlow Family (Simon, Rozanne, Murray)
Cellarmaster
Murray Barlow