An invitation to the Top 10 Hello Merlot awards was gratefully accepted
We were so impressed with the quality and the depth of the good merlots in last year's competition
This year, the event was held at Klein Alto, a very good function venue and restaurant on Alto estate in Stellenbosch
The interior of the Klein Alto restaurant
and the tasting room, set up for the occasion
The small kitchen produced some magic
The newly released Alto Rosé, only available at Klein Alto
It is a blend of Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet franc
Very nicely refreshingly dry with good plum and berry flavours as it says on the bottle's back label
We gathered in the courtyard and chatted to the winemakers and other media
The spread for lunch after the awards and tasting was indeed impressive
A delicious collation of cheeses, a small camembert topped with preserved fig, cold meats, coppa, biltong, salami,
with fresh fruit, crisp raw vegetables and a huge collection of dips, sauces and different rolls and breads
Merlot Association chair Matthew Copeland and PR Consultant Sandra Lotz
The programme
Matthew Copeland, Chairman of Merlot SA, started proceedings
He told us that the SA Merlot competition began in 2022. This is the fifth year
He thanked all their sponsors and handed over to Renier van Deventer, who was the Chief Judge
Renier also judges for the Young Wine Show and Veritas
One of the other sponsors
Ridgeback estate cellarmaster Renier van Deventer chaired the judging panel
He asked the question "What are you entering for?"
The first Merlot in South Africa was planted in 1982 and the total vineyard was 81 hectares
Today, it occupies more than 5,300 hectares, so is one of the top 10 SA varietals (Chenin Blanc fills 16 000 hectares)
Stellenbosch has most of the plantings (1 050, hectares), the others are in Paarl, Wellington and Breedekloof
Some vineyards are coastal and there are some in Elgin and Durbanville. South Africa has 5% of the world plantings
South African Merlot is getting much more attention across the world
Most of the entries have been in bottle for two years, so in 2024 the 2021 and 2022 were entered
In 2025, they came from 2022 and 2023 Vintages and this year, 2026, entries were from 2023 and 2024
Stellenbosch had the biggest entry - 21 of the 46 entries, followed by Paarl and Durbanville
Average alcohol was 14.3% (between 13.99 and 14.8) Sugar levels were 3.1 gm/ltr (2.1 to 3.9)
The average price of the wines is R243 (R100 to R550)
The judges' comments: "A golden thread of Merlot focus
What will do well or better when the focus is on clarity, brightness and depth
Focus on structure and varietal character. Fruit is ripe in combination with oak and in balance
Wood is not used to hide greenness. First fills worked!
Red fruit balance, good oak and fruit and a wide range of styles
The entries define Merlot not as one style, but from varied areas with varied styles
The 2023 wines are youthful and powerful, 2022 very polished and elegant
Mark Goldsworthy, South Africa and Scotland sales manager for Taransaud casks
The winner of the Top 10 wins a prize of a Taransaud barrel
As a cooper, he sees a lot of wooding on Merlot and barrel aged wines are well represented in the top 10
Prices are over R300; sadly, the low box wine prices sell more volume, so more support is needed for the top wines
Matthew told us that, to get into the top 10, a wine needs to score 95 points or more
The judges' choice was what was showing on the day of the tasting
The prize-giving then followed
And this year's Top Ten winners are:
Bein Merlot Reserve 2022
Winemaker Luca Bein. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
Deep nose, lots of Merlot fruit in layers, lighter in style, lots of tingle on the palate, some unripe fruit, needs time.
Carmen Stevens 2023
Made by Carmen Stevens. Wine of Origin, Coastal Region
Smoke hints on the nose, fruit a little shy
Berry fruit, chalky tannins, long flavours, good wood on the end, acid gaining balance. Needs time
Delaire Graff Banhoek Reserve Merlot 2023 Made by Morne Frey. Wine of Origin, Banhoek, Stellenbosch
An incredible nose, perfumed, fruit in layers and depth, superb
On the palate, lots of good layered merlot fruit, so perfectly ripe and velvety, drinking so well now, but has a great future
Dornier Merlot 2021
Winemaker, Toit Wessels. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
A red velvet nose, integrated and impressive with hints of violet
On the palate, chalky tannins, lots of berry fruit, long flavours and spicy oak. Very enjoyable
Glenelly Glass Collection Merlot 2022
Winemaker, Dirk van Zyl. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
Wood dark berry fruit and smoke on nose; on the block buster palate, layers and layers of great ripe fruit, elegance and huge potential for aging.
Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2023
Winemaker, Emil Kluge. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
Incense wood from French oak, quality, perfume of rose and violets and red fruit
Sweet fruit on palate draws you in, a lovely entry and a food wine. Great berries and wood melding together
Rainbow's End Merlot 2023
Winemaker Anton Malan. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
Elegant nose, well integrated and ripe fruit, repeats on the palate
Stellenbosch Reserve Kweekskool Merlot 2023
Winemaker, Ignus Ferreira. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
A mysterious nose that draws you in with a good balance of fruit and wood and style
On the palate, sweet berry fruit with a good hit of acidity, long flavours, to drink now or in the future
L'Avenir Provenance Merlot 2024
Winemaker, Dirk Coetzee. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
Incense French oak, light but good fruit, a bit shy, but with promise
Powerful fruit on the palate, in the classic French style of Merlot, restrained but elegant, fruit and wood working together
A food wine with a great future. Sommeliers take note
Villiera Monro Merlot 2023
Winemaker, Danielle Coetzee. Wine of Origin, Stellenbosch
Shy on the nose, true to the popular Merlot style
Bitter wood tannins, layered with dark wood, grip with fruit acids on end, long flavours, signal a possible long future
The view from Alto toward the Helderberg
The prizewinners were asked to step outside to the lawn to have their photograph taken
Mark Goldsworthy with a contingent of media people
Some of the Top Ten Prize winners or their representatives
Back row L to R: Dirk van Zyl, Glenelly; Kaylin Baxter and Danielle Coetzee, Villiera; Diedre Vermeulen and Priscilla Weber, Carmen Stevens; Emil Kluge, Holden Manz
Front Row: Morne Frey of Delaire Graff; Joe Toweel representing Bein; Toit Wessels of Dornier; Anton Malan of Rainbows End
Dirk Coetzee of L'Avenir was delayed and could not appear in this photograph
Presentation of a Taransaud 300 litre cask to the winner,
Dirk Coetzee, L'Avenir cellarmaster and Lara Barnard, assistant winemaker
Dessert, after the presentation, was small, but beautifully crafted and delicious
A rich chocolate torte, topped with blueberry compote and almond praline
A view of misty vineyards looking over to the Alto entrance. The views are spectacular from this area
Table Mountain, the embodiment of the Titan Adamastor, resting at the foot of Africa
All the stories we have produced since 2012
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