Plaisir de Merle Wines reviewed

Plaisir de Merle Wines, Simonsberg Paarl

2008 Plaisir de Merle Chardonnay 82+ Points

Clear, star bright, low plus concentration, low plus viscosity.

Clean, young, with lovely notes of citrus, lime and tangerine touch buttery and toasty, bread crust, good definition, has chardonnay austerity, French oak, touch minerality, dry to off dry, medium complexity, low plus acidity, medium alcohol, fruit confirms nose, limestone and shale minerality.

Does not have the same power, richness, structure and complexity of previous vintages, e.g 2004 & 2006. I do not think it’s a reflection of the vintage, as there has been some stunning Chardonnay’s from 2008, either it could be a change in winemaking style or inappropriate vineyard work, I mean not enough nurturing, remember great wine is born in the vineyard or the addition of fruit from younger vineyard.

Nevertheless this Chardonnay will last until 2014.

2008 Plaisir de Merle Wines, Simonsberg Paarl Sauvignon Blanc 78+ Points

Clear, bright pale straw, with slight green tinge, low plus concentration and low plus viscosity.

Clean, young, medley of gooseberries, kiwi, grapefruit, elderflower and dusty notes of dried earth.

Dry, juicy, confirms fruit, more grapefruit, confirms minerality, medium complexity, low plus acidity, low plus alcohol, from now until 2012.


2007 Plaisir de Merle Wines, Simonsberg Paarl Merlot 79 Points
Clear, bright ruby red, slight watery rim, medium concentration, medium viscosity.
Clean, plummy, ripe red berries, chocolate, truffles and cinnamon dust.

Dry, hollow mid palate, notes of sweet & sour cherries, black tea like tightness, green dry tannin, lacking complexity and fleshiness of Merlot, short finish, low plus complexity. From now until 2015.

The more Cape Merlot I taste, the more it further confirmed my observation that 99.9 % Merlot of the Cape is best left for blending and should never be bottle on it’s own, just because the market need a varietal Merlot, Rand for Rand the quality of Pinot Noir is far better than that of Merlot, currently available, across the board!
If only main supermarket buyers can start buying more Pinot Noir and fill in the gap of the atypical Merlot out there on the shelves, this will do a great service to the enjoyment and education of wine in South Africa.

2006 Plaisir de Merle Wines, Simonsberg Paarl Cabernet Sauvignon 76 Points

Clear, bright ruby red with slight russet rim, medium concentration, medium plus viscosity.

Clean, fresh, young, a little atypical for a Cabernet Sauvignon, with more prominent strawberry, ripe berries and raspberries, rather than the usual blackcurrant and cassis….

Touch cedary, with earthy notes of dark soil, savoury, fresh notes of black olives and black tea, sweet profile, low plus complexity, medium acidity, medium tannins, very commercial, a pity because one of the best South African Cabernet Sauvignon I ever had was the 1994 Plaisir de Merle, I should have enjoyed over 30 bottles of that vintage between 1998 – 2003, (on a student and commis Sommelier budget) and each and every bottle, was very close to a world class Cabernet Sauvignon, showcasing ripe Cabernet fruit concentration, austerity, structure, fragrant cedar wood, and explosive finish, what has happened, why such a drastic change in style ?
Now until 2014