- Analysis
- Vineyards
- Vinification and Aging
- Tasting Notes
- 2011 Vintage Notes
Catherine Marshall 2011 Peter’s Vision Merlot Reserve
Wine of Origin
Elgin
Varietals
100% Merlot
Analysis
Wine Maker: Catherine Marshall
Alcohol: 14 %
Total Acidity: 6.7 g/l
pH: 3.53
Residual Sugar: 2.57g/l
Production: 75 cases (1st Vintage ever Produced)
Vineyards
The vineyards are grown on predominantly bokkeveld shale with a high iron content that is prevalent in the Elgin Valley basin. All vines are vertically shoot positioned, and canopy management is carefully manipulated with the focus on ripening the tannins optimally so that no green tannins are evident at harvest. There are two clones, French and Italian. The Italian clone provides a flint, mineral and structured backdrop with earthy undertones, whereas the French clone provides the top red and black fruit notes for layered complexity.
Bunches are destemmed and slightly crushed. Spontaneous fermentation takes place in open top vats with juice and skin punched down and turned daily to control even heat distribution between the skin cap on top and must juice below. The process is controlled by hand with no pump or mechanical intervention. Once fermentation has completed, the vats are tasted and selected on tannin and flavor attributes and manually pressed in an 800kg capacity stainless steel basket press. The vat combinations selected are kept as separate fractions to create as many blending profiles as possible for the final assemblage. The secondary malolactic fermentation is completed in 225 Liter oak casks where the wine is racked off the lees and further matured for 16 months in a combination of new, 2nd and 3rd filled French coopered casks.
Classic, restrained elegance with a mouth filling Black Cherry and Red Rasperry fruit core, seamlessly poised with pronounced aromatics of ripe black plums. Tannins are supple and well-structured, with fresh acidity to support an opulent mid-palate for harmony. The mineral and gravel-like tannin texture will soften over time, with primary black fruit and spice becoming more savory as the wine matures. This wine would pair very well with a simply broiled Filet mignon, or a Tuna steak with an herb and citrus tapenade.
A difficult beginning to the growing season with cool, wet weather, creating problems at flowering time, and reducing the size of the crop. Rain caused flooding in certain areas but from November onwards drought conditions prevailed leading to small berries of concentrated flavors, especially amongst the Bordeaux style reds.