Nederburg Double Barrel Reserve 2021

COLOUR Deep ruby. BOUQUET Bold plump blueberry and cassis aromas that carry through to the palate. PALATE Bright black cherry vibrance and succulence, toned by oak spice. Approachable but well-defined structure with integrated soft tannins and a lovely length.

The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit were sourced from top-performing vineyards primarily situated in the cool-climate Darling region, while the Cabernet Franc came from Philadelphia, the Merlot from Darling and Stellenbosch, the Petit Verdot from Wellington and the Malbec from Paarl. The different microclimates and soil types associated with each vineyard add to the complexity of this wine.

Grapes were harvested at 23º to 25º Balling, from mid-February until the end of March. On arrival at the cellar, the different grape varieties were individually handled and vinified. In each instance, the fruit was gently crushed and fermented on the skins in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks at 25º to 28º C, for around 14 days. Upon extraction of desired colour and tannins, the various wines were drained from the skins, pressed and racked to a selection of mainly new French oak where these wines matured for 12 months before blending. The Merlot was aged in French oak barrels for 9 months after which it was racked and blended, and then returned to barrel for a period of 3 months, for added fullness/roundness. All components of the blend were then expertly combined to create a supremely well-balanced wine.