About Chris Williams:

Chris Williams was appointed Cellar Master at Meerlust in 2004 but has worked as Assistant Winemaker for the farm since 1995. He studied Oenology at Elsenberg and gained international experience in France while working for Michel Rolland. His interest was aroused in the classical French wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley.
Chris is energized by the challenge of developing the vines at Meerlust to their next stage of maturity, while isolating and identifying specific vineyards of excellence and vinifying the grapes to their highest expression.

Chris Williams says:

The 2005 vintage of Meerlust Merlot is being released this month.  This is the second vintage of Merlot made at Meerlust under the guidance of Cellar Master Chris Williams.
“The 2005 vintage yielded typically rich, oppulent Merlot with dark fruit flavours, focused minerality and rounded silky tannins. From the beginning the 2005 vintage showed enormous promise and the 2005 Merlot is certainly one of the best ever to be released by Meerlust. A small amount of Cabernet Franc has been added to the 2005 Merlot which gives the wine a firm mid-palate structure while assisting it to mature gracefully” says Chris.
The Meerlust Merlot is sourced from mature vineyards which have been planted on clay rich soils on the Estate.  Chris explains further “Clay soils help preserve moisture and prevent any water stress, thus retaining varietal aromas and fully developed, ripe tannins” 

SOIL TYPE

Selected from 24 year old Merlot plantings situated on clay-rich Oakleaf, Vilafontes and Klapmuts soil. 40% vendage vert (green harvesting cluster removal) at 60% veraison to ensure concentration and even-ripening.

VINIFICATION

Grapes hand-picked & selected before crushing. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with partial uninnoculated fermentation. Daily remontahe and delistagefor gentle extraction. A portion of the wine was given extended maceration on the skins for five weeks before pressing. Malo-lactic fermentation proceeded in 300 litre French Oak Hogsheads. Maturation in 60% new Nevers French Oak, 40% second fill Nevers for 17 months before bottling. The Meerlust Merlot 2005 is a blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc for structure.

ANALYSIS

Extract : 33
Residual sugar : 2.5 g/l
pH : 3.56
Total acidity : 6.5 g/l
Alcohol : 14 %
AGEING POTENTIAL
Up to 12 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

IDEALLY SERVED AT
18° - 19° C