Rouge 2018 is a merlot based red blend and comes from the prestigious Chamonix wine estate in Franschhoek. In the glass, wine shows a deep ruby colour with garnet highlights on the rim. The nose reveals blackcurrant, cedar with scents reminiscent of red berries, spices and vanilla. Amply structured, this juicy red is  full, round and easy on the palate, with rich fruity flavours. Elegant and refined, it’s a wine that over-delivers on quality vs price. Drink it immediately or cellar it for a couple years to help the wine evolve and mature.

The Rouge is a Bordeaux-style wine made from grapes harvested from vines planted at the estate. The 2018 vintage is a blend of  40% Merlot; 33% Cabernet Sauvignon; 17% Malbec; and 10% Petit Verdot. Once picked, the grapes are destemmed and soft­crushed before fermented in stainless steel tanks for two weeks on the skins. After malolactic fermentation, the wine moves to the cellar to mature for 18 months in older French oak barrels.