2021 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5%
Residual Sugar 2 g/L
pH 3.47
Total Acidity 6.1 g/L
Calories (estimated) 120 kcal / glass
150ml glass120 kcal
750ml bottle600 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot
Merlot100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Decomposed granite
Harvest Dates February 15-24, 2021
Fermentation Vessels Wooden Fermenter
Maceration 5 days
Oak Details 40% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak40%
Oak Types French
Production Details The 2021 harvest in Franschhoek and Darling can best be described as "late, slow, and steady." A cold, wet winter provided excellent dormancy for the vines and replenished water reserves ahead of the growing season. The cool conditions carried through into spring, leading to a delayed but even bud break, flowering, and fruit set. A moderate summer further extended the ripening period, pushing harvest about two weeks later than usual. February, typically the warmest month, was unexpectedly cool, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually while retaining fresh acidity and vibrant flavors. The result is an exceptional vintage producing outstanding wines that are approachable yet have wonderful ageing potential. Our 2021 Merlot grapes were carefully hand-picked and placed into small lug boxes before being transported to the cellar in refrigerated trucks to preserve their freshness. Upon arrival, the whole berries go through a thorough double-sorting process, including optical sorting, and are gently gravity-fed into wooden fermenters. Each parcel undergoes a cold soak for a few days before gradually being warmed for a natural fermentation to take place. After fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for an extended 5-day maceration period to extract even more depth and colour. The wine is then matured for 24 months in 40% new French oak barriques, bottled, and aged in the bottle for an additional three years. The grapes for this Merlot are sourced from our vineyards planted on L'Ormarins in Franschhoek and Rooderust in Darling. Only 20 barriques were produced for the 2021 vintage.
Tasting Notes
Nose: dark fruitcake, dried lavender
Palate: fruitcake, tobacco leaf, plum, cedar spice
2020 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5%
Residual Sugar 3.2 g/L
pH 3.51
Total Acidity 6.4 g/L
Calories (estimated) 120 kcal / glass
150ml glass120 kcal
750ml bottle600 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot
Merlot100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Oakleaf- decomposed granite
Harvest Dates February 11, 2020
Fermentation Vessels Wooden Fermenter
Maceration 5 days
Oak Details 50% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak50%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details The 2020 Merlot harvest in Franschhoek brought a renewed sense of optimism. After the prolonged drought years, increased rainfall provided much-needed relief to the vineyards, leading to improved vine health and larger yields compared to 2019. Moderate temperatures during the ripening period allowed for slow, even maturation, preserving fresh aromatics and depth of flavour. The resulting wines show excellent balance, with ripe tannins, refined structure, and a vibrant fruit profile. With its richness and complexity, the 2020 vintage stands out as one of the most promising years for Merlot in South Africa. Our 2020 Merlot grapes were carefully hand-picked and placed into small lug boxes before being transported to the cellar in refrigerated trucks to preserve their freshness. Upon arrival, the whole berries go through a thorough double-sorting process, including optical sorting, and are gently gravity-fed into wooden fermenters. Each parcel undergoes a cold soak for a few days before gradually being warmed for a natural fermentation to take place. After fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for an extended 5-day maceration period to extract even more depth and colour. The wine is then matured for 24 months in 50% new French oak barriques, bottled unfiltered, and aged in the bottle for an additional three years. The grapes for this Merlot are all sourced primarily from our Franschhoek vineyards and selected vineyards from Groenekloof in Darling. Only 12 barriques were produced for the 2020 vintage.
Tasting Notes
Nose: bold spicy plum pudding, black cherry, dark chocolate
Palate: rounded, plush, lissom, vibrant spicy edge, rich plum, dark fruit, deep cocoa powder, chocolate flavour
2019 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.0%
Residual Sugar 2.5 g/L
pH 3.46
Total Acidity 6.4 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Merlot85%
Cabernet Franc15%
Region Western Cape
Soil Decomposed granite
Harvest Dates 12 February 2019-19 February 2019
Fermentation Vessels Wooden Fermenter
Maceration 5 days
Oak Aging 24 months
Oak Details 50% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak50%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details Our 2019 Merlot grapes were carefully hand-picked and placed into small lug boxes before being transported to the cellar in refrigerated trucks to preserve their freshness. Upon arrival, the whole berries go through a thorough double-sorting process, including optical sorting, and are gently gravity-fed into wooden fermenters. Each parcel undergoes a cold soak for a few days before gradually being warmed for a natural fermentation to take place. After fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for an extended 5-day maceration period to extract even more depth and colour. The wine is then matured for 24 months in 50% new French oak barriques, bottled unfiltered, and aged in the bottle for an additional three years. The grapes for this Merlot are all sourced from our Franschhoek vineyards giving it a distinct sense of place. Only 11 barriques were produced for the 2019 vintage.
Tasting Notes
chocolate, violet perfume, inky notes, earthy notes, cocoa, dark black fruit, blue fruit, cherry fruit, chalky tannin, fine tannin
2018 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.44%
Residual Sugar 3 g/L
pH 3.62
Total Acidity 5.8 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot
Merlot100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Decomposed granite
Harvest Dates February 7-15, 2018
Maceration 5 days
Oak Details 50% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak50%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details Grapes are hand-picked, placed in small lug boxes, and transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. The whole berries are double-sorted in the cellar using optical sorting before being gravity-fed into wood fermenters. Each batch is cold-soaked for a few days and then gradually brought up to temperature, where fermentation occurs naturally. After fermentation, the skins can be macerated for 5 days. The wines were matured in 50% new French wood for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered and bottle-aged for an additional three years. The grapes come primarily from our Franschhoek vineyards, with a small percentage coming from our Groenekloof vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Nose: bold purple plums, black cherries, perfume, cut flower stems
Palate: spicy purple berry fruits, black berry fruits, oak edge, savoury, tangy
2017 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.0%
Residual Sugar 2.1 g/L
pH 3.6
Total Acidity 6 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot
Merlot100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Decomposed granite
Harvest Dates 3 February 2017 - 13 February 2017
Fermentation Vessels Wooden Fermenter
Maceration 5 days
Oak Details 60% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak60%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details Grapes are picked by hand, placed into small lug boxes, and transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. In the cellar, the whole berries are double-sorted with optical sorting and then gravity-fed into wood fermenters. Each batch is cold-soaked for a few days and then slowly brought up in temperature, where fermentation takes place naturally. After fermentation, 5 days of maceration on the skins are allowed. The wines were aged for 24 months in 60% new French oak, bottled unfiltered, and then bottle-aged for 3 years.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Black Forest gateau, deep plum, spice
Palate: black cherry, plum, understated spice, ripe dark fruit
2016 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5%
Residual Sugar 2.2 g/L
pH 3.53
Total Acidity 5.8 g/L
Calories (estimated) 120 kcal / glass
150ml glass120 kcal
750ml bottle600 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot
Merlot100%
Region Western Cape
Soil De-composed granite
Harvest Dates January 22, 2016 - February 16, 2016
Oak Aging 18 months
Bottle Aging 2 years
Oak Details 80% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak80%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details Grapes are picked by hand, placed into small lug boxes and transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. In the cellar, the whole berries are manually double sorted and then gravity fed into fermenters. Each batch is cold soaked for a few days and then slowly brought up in temperature, with fermentation taking place naturally. The wines were aged for 18 to 24 months in 80% new French oak, bottled unfiltered and furthermore bottle aged for 2 years.
Tasting Notes
Nose: herb notes, plum, berry fruit
Palate: hedgerow fruit, berries, plum, cocoa, cedar, spice, earthiness
2015 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5%
Residual Sugar 3.5 g/L
Total Acidity 5.4 g/L
Calories (estimated) 120 kcal / glass
150ml glass120 kcal
750ml bottle600 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot
Merlot100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Decomposed granite
Harvest Dates 29 January 2015
Oak Aging 18 months
Bottle Aging 2 years
Oak Details 80% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak80%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details Grapes are picked by hand, placed into small lug boxes and transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. In the cellar, the whole berries are manually double sorted and then gravity fed into fermenters. Each batch is cold soaked for a few days and then slowly brought up in temperature, fermentation takes place naturally. The wines were aged for 18 to 24 months in 80% new French oak, bottled unfiltered and bottle aged for 2 years. The vineyards selected for the Anthonij Rupert wines are chosen from vines planted on very specific sites and soil types. The canopies of each block and the final yield of each site was managed precisely to express the character of the different varietal and location.
Tasting Notes
Nose: plum, blueberry, cocoa powder, dried herbs
Palate: plush fruit, ripe fruit, earthy, chocolate nuance, succulence, acidity, gentle tannin grip
2014 Technical Specifications
Region Western Cape
Soil Decomposed granite
Harvest Dates 18 February 2014
Bottle Aging 2 years
Oak Details 80% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak80%
Oak Types French
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details Grapes are picked by hand, placed into small lug boxes and transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. In the cellar, the whole berries are manually double sorted and then gravity fed into fermentors. Each batch is cold-soaked for a few days and then slowly brought up in temperature. Fermentation takes place naturally. The wines were aged for 18 to 24 months in 80% new French oak, bottled unfiltered and bottle-aged for 2 years. The vineyards selected for the Anthonij Rupert wines are chosen from vines planted on very specific sites and soil types. The canopies of each block and the final yield of each site were managed precisely to express the character of the different varietal and location.
Tasting Notes
Nose: shy perfume, red fruit, black fruit, faint spice, licorice
Palate: velvety, smooth, silky, black berries, rich fruitcake, tobacco leaf
Producer Information
Website
Phone
+27 (0)21 874 9004
Email
Owner
Johann Rupert