Dornier Merlot is produced from vines planted on the South Westerly slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain in soils consisting of red and yellow decomposed granite with high clay content.
The Merlot vineyard is planted to selected clones that yield better quality grapes and lower production per vine. Viticultural techniques based on methods and principles respectful to the environment allow for a productive balance of about 8 tons of grapes per hectare.
Optimally ripe grapes were hand-picked and sorted before fermentation, to ensure that only the finest quality fruit was selected for the wine. The grapes were fermented in open stainless steel tanks with pump-overs performed regularly. The wine spent 12 months ageing in French oak barrels before bottling.
This wine has aromas of cherry, dark berries and hints of fynbos with a bright ruby-red colour. The palate shows freshness, concentration and balance, with flavours of ripe black cherries, plums and black current.