Celebrate International Cabernet Day with Muratie's Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon

Celebrate International Cabernet Sauvignon Day on 31st August with Muratie's Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

On International Cabernet Day on 31st August the wine world celebrates the undisputed king of red varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon – the most widely planted red grape variety from which some of the world’s greatest red wines are produced. A noble wine with an impressive pedigree, with the potential for fruit, elegance, power, complexity, consistency, acidity and aging, Cabernet Sauvignon's got it all.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO LOVE ABOUT CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Look for the signature aroma of black currant, and from there, depending on the wine's age and how much time it spent in barrels, aromas and/or flavours can include gorgeous notes of plums, blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, raspberry, mint, violet, eucalyptus, anise, vanilla, clove, chocolate, coffee, liquorice, tobacco, green pepper, black pepper, spice, leather and smoke.

CELEBRATE CABERNET DAY WITH MURATIE MARTIN MELCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018

To celebrate International Cabernet Day, Muratie invites you to explore the many delights of their highly acclaimed Martin Melck Cabernet grown on the slopes of the majestic Simonsberg in Stellenbosch. With its unique combination of ancient soils, sites, skilled winemakers and a Mediterranean climate with maritime influences, Stellenbosch is establishing itself as the ‘Kingdom of Cabernet’ in the South African winelands. The Simonsberg ward, one of Cabernet’s ancestral homes, is Stellenbosch’s most revered Cabernet Sauvignon producing region – the jewel in the crown!

At Muratie every wine tells a story: Muratie is one of the oldest farms in South Africa, rich in history and heritage. And with this age comes a myriad fascinating tales of the many extraordinary characters from the farm’s colourful past, whose names grace the wines of Muratie. Each wine has its own charming story described on the back label. Says Rijk Melck (co-owner), “When you sip on our wines you are tasting history for yourself.”

The story: The Muratie Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon honours Martin Melck – patriarch of the Melck clan in South Africa – a fiery Prussian who became one of the Cape’s greatest landowners and most influential stock-and wine-farmers. Martin bought De Driesprong (Muratie) in 1763 and the farm remained in the hands of his descendants for 134 years, during which time the Muratie manor house was built. Martin is also acclaimed for building the first Lutheran Church and neighbouring parsonage, known as Martin Melck House, in Strand Street, Cape Town – both Cape Provincial Heritage sites. Amazingly, almost 100 years later, the historic Muratie estate rightfully returned to the Melck family when Ronnie Melck, South African wine industry legend and direct descendant of Martin Melck, purchased Muratie in 1987, fulfilling a lifelong passion.

The philosophy: At Muratie, meticulous care in the vineyards and cellar, blending the best of traditional and modern methods, and a minimal intervention approach allows the estate’s exceptional Simonsberg terroir to speak for itself.

The vineyard: The Muratie Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 was sourced from three different vineyard blocks on the slopes of the Simonsberg. Planted in 1993, 1998 and 2013, the vineyards are northwest facing at an elevation of 260m above sea level.

The cellar: Scrupulous bunch sorting, prudent handpicking (with a yield of only 6 tons per hectare) and rigorous grape sorting in the cellar ensures the selection of only the very best Cabernet grapes for this statuesque wine. After destemming and crushing, the grapes were transferred to traditional classic concrete open fermenters for cold soaking to extract good colour and increase ageability. Fermentation followed, with the use of different strains of yeasts to enhance aroma and flavour diversity, and regular punch downs to increase skin contact. The free run juice was racked off the skins to settle in stainless steel tanks. The skins were gently pressed in Muratie’s new controlled computerized pneumatic bag press and settled in separate tanks. Thereafter the two components were matured independently for 18 months in 225L French Oak barrels – 25% New Oak. When the final tasting and blending took place, some of the pressed juice was added to the final blend for optimal structure and complexity.

The wine: The Muratie Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 introduces itself with a beautiful, intense ruby-red colour in the glass and captivating aromas of dark fruit and spice. Classically styled and restrained, concentrated blackberries, black cherries and plums are underscored by fresh acidity, and framed by cedar wood and spice notes from oak maturation. This is a full-bodied and complex wine, opulent yet polished, a wine of seamless oak integration, balance, finesse and great length true to its Simonsberg terroir. Even after the last sip, this authoritative Cabernet with its purity and lingering finish will be remembered for a long time and will reward cellaring for at least another 6 years.

The food: Enjoy the Muratie Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon with Slow-Braised Karoo-Style Lamb Shanks.

Purchase: Muratie Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is available at the estate, online at www.muratie.co.za/wine/buy-wine/ and at select fine wine merchants around the country.

Approximate retail price: R310