Muratie Wine Estate is home to a collection of age-old traditions, colourful characters and some of the country’s finest wines. Muratie’s passion lies in preserving the rich heritage and wonderful human stories that make up their fascinating history and it’s matched in the way they produce their fine wines. We get to know one of these signature fine wines a little better, Muratie’s Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 2015.

Muratie Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 2015

Honouring the late Martin Melck, owner of Muratie Estate from 1763 to 1781, this family reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the maiden vintage of Muratie’s winemaker, Hattingh de Villiers, and is one of the best vintages the estate has seen in years.

The Taste is in the Tradition

Muratie balances a blend of tradition and evolution to ensure that they continue producing the classic wines that they are internationally renowned for. Keeping things traditional, Muratie tells us more about their harvesting methods.

“We still handpick our grapes. This gives us a better understanding of the quality of the harvest before the winemaking process begins”

The grapes are then hand-sorted and selected to ensure only the highest-quality bunches are used in the winemaking. These traditional methods are the secret to the quality of flavour in Muratie’s wine.

Fermentation and Farming

From fermenting to bottling, the process involves a balance of winemaker’s intuition, time-honoured processes and contemporary best practice. Even the vineyards are traditionally kept pest-free by ever-vigilant flocks of geese, avoiding the need for environmentally insensitive pesticides.

Blending the best of traditional and modern methods, Muratie employs a combination of classic open fermenters and stainless steel tanks in the fermentation process. After fermentation, the grapes are gently pressed and the wine is matured in French oak barrels until the winemaking team discerns that it has reached its optimum moment to go to bottle.

Challenges of Working with Cabernet

Because this varietal grows so well, it’s imperative that the foliage growth is monitored to avoid misjudgement and over-extraction. If proper canopy management isn’t implemented, the grapes can take on a greener flavour due to the lack of sunlight from overgrowth.

Hattingh says, “Ideally, you want to have harmony between the number of leaves and the bunches of grapes to ensure optimum ripeness and quality.”

Interesting Cellar Notes Unique to this Wine

The Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve is sourced from a site-specific vineyard, which has been earmarked due to its unique location at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain.

For all intents and purposes, this block is cultivated as a single vineyard.

Notes from the Winemaker

We asked the winemaker what makes Martin Melck 2015 unique… “In special years, certain barrels of Muratie’s Simonsberg Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is so exceptional in terms of their fruit intensity, structure and balance that they deserve to be held back and bottled separately.”

Martin Melck Tasting Notes

The Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 2015 is a full-bodied and opulent wine. The blackberries, currants and plums are almost Crème de Cassis-like in their concentration.

The oak integration is seamless while imparting an exotic spice perfume.

Flavour Profile & Pairing Suggestions

This full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon has a complexity of flavour and an elegance in the finish. It’s best paired with hearty, slow-cooked favourites like traditional oxtail stew or with rib eye and earthy vegetables or Karoo lamb chops.

Reverse-Sear Rib Eye with Roasted Garlic Herb Butter and Fingerling Fries

Cooking steak to perfection can be a tricky task but with the reverse sear method, the results are guaranteed.

Recipe for Reverse-Sear Rib Eye with Roasted Garlic Herb Butter and Fingerling Fries

Homestyle Oxtail Stew in A Rich Gravy

Tender oxtail in a slow-cooked, rich gravy – perfect for a winter dinner by the fire.

Homestyle Oxtail Stew in A Rich Gravy

Quickfire questions

A song that best describes the wine or could be listened to while drinking this wine. Van Morrison – In the Garden

If this wine was a celebrity who would it be? Javier Bardem – No country for old men.

If this wine won an Oscar, what would it be for? Best Cult Movie.

R 360 per bottle. Exclusively available on the estate.

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