ISA 42 2003

NOW its time to release the third batch!? I am not saying that you will definitely like the next BLANKbottle™, but I can guarantee a Top class wine! The NEW! Batch: ISA 42 – We were, like usual, blessed with another fascinating RED! Merlot Reserve 2003. My main focus with the next batch was to find something unique and better than the previous 7-47. I was looking for a 4 star wine. Many of the 2004 wines were just a bit too rough at the moment so I started to concentrate on the 2003 wines. I tasted some Fantastic Shiraz, but after many days of tasting I found something really special. This specific Merlot spent almost 2 years in brand new French oak. The wine is from a single vineyard from Stellenbosch. I negotiated with the farm and winemaker and managed to buy some of the wine. Unfortunately like all the BLANKbottle™ batches, The grapes came from a vineyard on the foothills of the Simonsberg, just outside Stellenbosch. The minimum slope and the water holding capacity of the clay provides an environment where irrigation is not necessary. The rootstock is Richter 99 and the Clone MO36A. The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness (summer of 2003). French yeast was used and fermentation took place in Stainless steel tanks with frequent pumpovers (4x per day). Skin contact for a total of 18 days. The wine were racked to barrel (70% new and 30% second fill) for 18 months). Volume: 6400 Bottles. Tasting notes: This is a food wine. It’s got massive structure with intense berry fruit and mint leaves on the nose. The wine is thick, dark in colour, big tannin structure but still classy and serious! Ripe, supple tannin integrated with warm, bright fruit! The wine has very soft tannins and is ready for immediate consumption, with good ageing potential (8 to 10 years). Analysis: Alcohol: 14.44% pH 3.6 Acid 5.86 g/l