Ridgeback Merlot

Ridgeback Wines is situated in the northern part of the picturesque town of Paarl in the Western Cape, on the northern slopes of the magnificent Paarl Mountain. The farm extends over an area of 65 hectares. Their vineyards are amongst the finest in the Cape, and the winery, which overlooks a small dam, is home to an abundance of waterfowl which add to the beauty and peaceful ambience of this tranquil environment.
A total of 35 hectares are currently under vine with the potential to increase the capacity further. The farm has planted a wide variety of different cultivars. enabling their winemaker to produce an exciting array of blends and single varietal wines

The bunches were destemmed onto the sorting table ensuring the removal of all stalks and retaining a whole berry component of 30% in the fermenter. The mash was then cold soaked overnight at 12 degrees Celsius.

Fermentation was done in open stainless-steel fermenters at 24-28 degrees Celsius using a commercial yeast strain specifically suited to the cultivar. Pumpovers were done 3-4 times daily to extract flavour and tannins for structure. The mash was pressed immediately after primary fermentation was completed to avoid harsh tannin extraction. The wine was gravity fed to 225l French oak barrels after Malolactic fermentation.

Maturation in 29% new, 35% second fill and 36% third fill French oak barrels lasted for 17 months and the wine was then lightly filtered prior to bottling.

Intense aromatics of dark plum, mulberry and liquorice with a hint of mint. A generously juicy midpalate is well cradled by ripe tannin and lingering pepper wood spice on the long finish.