Wine: Louiesenhof Merlot Grape: Merlot Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa Vintage: 1996 Louiesenhof is one of the newest wine producers in South Africa. For many years the Smit family grew grapes in considerable quantities and supplied them to the large co-operatives.
In line with grape growers in many countries the Smit family have now gone into the business of making their own wines instead of simply growing grapes. Wine making, if successful, should be both pleasurable and profitable.
Stefan Smit has established his own winery Louiesenhof, near Stellenbosch. He believes in 'harmony with nature' which is reflected in minimum cultivation and fertilisation.
A new winery is being planned while the cellars have a capacity of more than four million bottles.
The vineyards have been replanted with new vines primarily red varietals such as pinotage, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and tinta barrocca.
The 1996 merlot has a good solid purplish appearance and plenty of fruitiness on the nose. The wine has good body and flavour and decent length. Try it with pasta dishes.