Plaisir De Merle’s Chardonnay 2006 A True Reflection Of Its Terroir

Cellarmaster Niel Bester of Plaisir de Merle has produced his 14th Chardonnay vintage since the cellar was opened in 1993 - the 2006 Plaisir de Merle Chardonnay and he feels this vintage truly reflects the characteristic terroir of the farm.

“It has been interesting to experience the different vintages as the plantings and clones have been adapted. Over the years the vineyards have been renewed, replanted and new locations selected. Although the old stalwart vines still form the nucleus of the blend, the young vineyards, planted in late 1999/2000 and introduced into the blend in the last two years, have added the freshness and crispness that make all the difference,” he says.

The vineyards with the different Chardonnay clones are all situated on different locations, in stepped steep blocks, ranging from 200 to 500 metres above sea level. The vines are not irrigated, as the mountain supplies the roots with enough moisture, keeping the vines in excellent condition.

Before harvesting, the grapes were evaluated on the vines, they were then hand selected and put into small crates. On delivery to the cellar they were once again inspected and any unwanted fruit was removed.

After crushing, the juice was transferred into individually selected barrels to match the different clones and the different batches were inoculated with the appropriate yeast strains.

Four different coopers supplied the barrels for the new wood to Bester’s specifications – barrels that enhance and support the grape characteristics to retain the fruitiness. The older barrels were also used to broaden the flavours. The wine was 100% barrel fermented – all French oak - with malolactic fermentation taking place spontaneously in nearly 60% of the barrels.

It was stirred on a regular basis and Bester sampled the wine to get the feel of its progress and to plan the possible dimensions of the blend. His ultimate goal for this wine was to give a combination of grape and oak flavours and to reflect the influence of the Plaisir de Merle characteristics and its distinctive terroir.

The result – a stunning wine – and an triple award winner - it won a gold medal at the Swiss International Airline Awards 2007 and it was also selected as the Top Chardonnay and the Top White Wine.

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