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Eagerly Awaited Plaisir de Merle Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Now Available
The latest vintage of Plaisir de Merle Sauvignon Blanc 2012 has proved to be even better than the exceptional 2011 vintage which was a total sellout, says cellarmaster Niel Bester.
“We were all a little pessimistic because of the weather. This was a challenging year – dry with less than normal rain and then a heat wave just before the harvest in January,” says Bester. “But I was pleasantly surprised. The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc turned to be superb. It is elegant, delicate with prominent passion fruit and tropical fruit aromas, but still retaining that typical greenness in the flavour.
The grapes were harvested by hand and sourced from three different vineyards – two on Plaisir de Merle and one in Darling, with the grapes sourced from a cool climate area adding an extra dimension that Bester wanted, and contributing to the traditional cool climate typicity such as green peas, green figs and nettles associated with the cultivar.
The colour is brilliant with fresh green tinges. On the nose there are lovely floral and passion fruit aromas, with hints of pineapple and spanspek. The enticing nose carries through to the taste and holds its own all the way. On the palate it is fresh, full and rich with flavours of tropical fruit and nettles in the initial flavour. This follows through with mouth-filling sweet, fresh tropical flavours of passion fruit, pineapple and the typical green hints of the cultivar. It has a very long and lingering aftertaste.
Bester – who celebrates 20 years at Plaisir de Merle this year – knows what to expect from his vineyards and earmarks specific vineyards that will give him the desired style of wine. Plaisir de Merle 2012, available in a crew-cap bottle, can be enjoyed with a variety of light dishes such as a seafood salads, pasta or fish – or on its own it’s a delight. It also makes an ideal lunchtime or picnic accompaniment and served nicely chilled, enhances the pleasure of dining alfresco.
Although it is beautifully fresh to enjoy now, it will develop well, even after 12 – 24 months, says Bester. It sells for about R85 and is available from leading bottle stores, wine departments of most supermarkets and from the Tasting Centre on the farm. Visit the website on www.plaisirdemerle.co.za or follow on Facebook.
