Merlot SA with Taransaud Barrels hosted it’s fourth annual Top 10 Merlot Competition in May. The spotlight turned once again to celebrate one of the most beloved grape varietals in winemaking history – Merlot.
The Taransaud Merlot Top 10 competition has now built a sterling reputation for identifying and honouring the very best Merlot wines that South Africa produces. This year saw 47 confirmed single variety entries, with an excellent representation of the most passionate Merlot producers in the country.
At the heart of the competition lies its rigorous judging process, performed by a distinguished panel of panel of judges, tasked to evaluate the entries on their complexity, balance and sense of place.
We’re proud to announce that our Duke Merlot 2023 has been selected as one of the Top 10 Merlots!
This standout wine brings serious flavour to the table – with its dense, opaque ruby colour and bold aromas of dark hedgerow fruit, ripe plum, chocolate, and layered oak spice. The palate is silky and generous, offering up rich dark berry fruit, subtle hints of black olive, and a vibrant, lingering finish.
And the best part? This award-winning Merlot is just R80 a bottle – proving that exceptional quality doesn’t have to come at a high price.
Perfect pairing? Try it with your favourite tomato-based pasta, a classic pizza, or a juicy beef burger.
Wellington Wines’ Senior Winemaker Daniel Slabber receiving the award