The 2018 Megan

Located on the cool slopes of the Stellenbosch Valley, at the foot of the Bottelary mountain range, the Hartenberg estate benefits from a maritime climate tempered by breezes from False Bay. The vines are planted on predominantly granitic and clay-sandy soils, well-drained, which promote slow and steady ripening of the grapes. The varied exposure of the plots, between hillsides and more sheltered folds, allows for the harvesting of fruit that is both ripe and balanced, giving rise to elegant and structured wines.

The grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness, then destemmed and sorted before fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks, with regular pump-overs to extract color and tannins. Maceration continues after fermentation to refine the structure. The wine is then racked for extended aging in oak barrels, with a significant percentage of French wood, allowing for aging on fine lees and spaced rackings, until blending and bottling at the estate.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruits, juicy plum and blackcurrant, enhanced by delicate floral touches, spicy nuances of pepper and clove, as well as woody accents of cedar, vanilla and chocolate. The palate presents a silky texture, supported by fresh acidity, fine but present tannins and a long and harmonious finish that leaves an impression of depth and balance.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today, South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often share more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, heavily influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.