The Melck family of Muratie in Stellenbosch does a great job of preserving and celebrating the heritage of the 330-year-old farm, where every nook and cranny of the historic buildings under their gnarled oaks is packed with historic artefacts, and each of their wines is named for one of the many characters who have shaped its history.
The current Melcks are direct descendants of Martin Melck, one of the Cape’s great landowners and farmers. He bought Muratie for his daughter in 1763, and it stayed in the family for more than 100 years until 1897.
Almost a century later, Ronnie Melck brought Muratie back into the family fold. Another legendary Cape wine figure, he was known for his unerring palate (he could apparently taste a wine blind and tell you what year it was made and from which slope) and instinctive flair for wine-making.
He revived Muratie, laying the foundation for what it is today – making wines that in his words are “humble, honest and full of integrity” – character reflected in his namesake Ronnie Melck Shiraz.
Made for savouring now, or ageing up to 10 years, the 2013 vintage is silky smooth with lots of pepper on the nose, dark and fruity layered with subtle spiciness and wood, all beautifully balanced and integrated (about R140).
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