LAIBACH CLASSIC Merlot 2017
TECHNICAL DETAILS
VARIETAL | 100% Merlot |
ALCOHOL | 14,5 % |
TOTAL ACIDITY | 5.2 g/l |
pH | 3.58 |
RESIDUAL SUGAR | 1.4 g/l |
TASTING NOTES
We proudly present a new vintage of one of our favourite wines. Merlot 2017 is a very small production this year. It is a blend of 3 vineyards, mostly younger and it is a good representation of the vintage and what we think should be a good South – African Merlot. Grapes are all grown without irrigation and yields are limited to give a fair chance of ripening. The vintage was quite dry and hot in certain times but the results are great.
We pick everything by hand and some batches we chill overnight. After destemming we have a strict sorting regime to remove all unwanted green stems by hand. This is a very slow process of only 2 tons per hour but essential to the success of this challenging grape. We crush lightly to have ± 30% whole berries in the tank. We use some open top fermentation with punch downs but we also use close tanks with a pre cold soak and extended maceration. Skin contact can take 5 – 35 days depending of vintage. After pressing the press is kept separate and the wine spends 12 months in barrel. Of this 25 % is new. The wine is bottled with filtration.
Deep dark colour. Lovely, juicy nose with ripe berries, chocolate and some strawberry evident. A hint of toast with white, milk chocolate dominates a medium bodied palate. Soft, juicy tannins with lovely spice and a balanced lingering aftertaste. No greenness at all and quite full bodied for a Merlot. Enjoy now but with enough structure and complexity to age 4 – 6 years.

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Natural Sweet Wine 2019

Natural Sweet Wine 2018

Natural Sweet Wine 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Pinotage 2015

Pinotage 2017

Pinotage 2016

Merlot 2015

Merlot 2017

Merlot 2014

Pinotage Rosé 2014

Chenin Blanc 2014

Natural Sweet Wine 2016

The Dogleg 2003

FOUR Red 2005

Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2019

Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2018

Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2017

Grand Pinotage RR 2016

Claypot Merlot 2016

Claypot Merlot 2015

Friedrich Laibach The Founder's Blend 2014

Friedrich Laibach The Founder's Blend 2016

Friedrich Laibach The Founder's Blend 2018

Claypot Merlot 2014

The Widow's Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Red 2004

MCC 2016

MCC 2017

MCC 2018

Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Red 2015

Red 2017

Red 2016

Organic Rosé 2020

Organic Rosé 2019

Organic Rosé 2018

Organic Rosé 2017

MCC 2014

MCC 2015

MCC 2013

Red 2014

Red 2015

White 2015

White 2016

White 2020

White 2018
White 2019

White 2017

Chenin Blanc 2016

Chenin Blanc 2019

Chenin Blanc 2018
