You want something with a bit of weight tonight, but nothing that wrestles you. This is it. A South African Merlot that pours dark and drinks soft, all ripe plum and dark berry with a smooth, rounded finish. It's the bottle you open when the grill's going and you want a red that just gets on with everyone. No fuss, no homework. Say the word and we'll have it at your door, late hour or not.
First sniff is all dark fruit. Ripe plum, blackberry, a little cherry, with a faint waft of oak spice and something floral sitting underneath (the winery calls it violets and graphite, which is a fancy way of saying it smells layered, not flat). On the palate the dark fruit carries through, full and plush, and the tannins (that's the grippy, drying part of a red) are soft and well behaved here, so it glides rather than bites. It's properly dry, meaning not sweet, and it finishes long and warm thanks to that 14.5%.
The details
Pairs well with
Where it's from
Zevenwacht is a 450-hectare estate out near Kuils River, in the Stellenbosch corner of South Africa's coastal winelands. The name is old Dutch, roughly "seven expectations," and the land's been farmed since the late 1600s. The Johnson family took it over in 1992 and run it as a proper estate today, vines, restaurant, cottages, the lot, with a chunk of the property kept wild as fynbos conservation. Estate-grown Merlot like this comes off their own home vineyards, so the grapes and the bottle share an address.
Good to know
- What is the price of Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019 750ml?
Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019 750ml is KSh 2,929 at Oaks & Corks. Order online for fast delivery across Nairobi, usually within the hour, or next day countrywide.
- What does Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019 750ml taste like?
Ripe plum, blackberry and cherry up front, with a touch of oak spice and a floral edge. It's smooth and full-bodied with soft tannins and a dry, warm finish. Easy company, not a heavyweight.
- What is the ABV of Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019?
It's 14.5% alcohol, which is on the fuller side for a red, so it drinks rich and warming. Pace yourself a touch.
- Is this wine sweet or dry?
Bone dry. The fruit is ripe and generous so it can read as juicy, but there's no actual sweetness in the glass.
- How should I serve it?
Around 16 to 18C in a large glass. If it's been sitting in a warm room, pop it in the fridge for 20 minutes first, and open it a little early so it can breathe.
- What food pairs with Zevenwacht Merlot?
Anything off the grill loves it, nyama choma especially, plus beef stew, lamb chops, roast chicken, or a mushroom risotto. Aged cheddar works too.
- Where is Zevenwacht Estate Merlot from?
From the Zevenwacht estate near Kuils River, in the Stellenbosch coastal region of South Africa. It's estate-grown, meaning the grapes come off the winery's own vineyards.
Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019 750ml
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Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019 750ml price in Kenya
Buy Zevenwacht Estate Merlot 2019 750ml online in Nairobi, Kenya for KSh 2,929. Order now for fast delivery across Nairobi — usually within 30 minutes — or next-day delivery countrywide.