If you’re making a wine in Franschhoek, it comes naturally to declare it a wine from Afrique du Sud and if its a Merlot running at 12% alcohol, you can do so with knobs on. For this is probably the most elegant Merlot to emerge from the French Corner of the Cape. So it’s berets off to Akkerdal and fame and fortune in Bordeaux where the 12% Merlots this vintage are mostly weedy and sharp.

Sweet fruit on the palate which is wonderously soft, the tannins are better restrained than any man in an iron mask. A great match with lamb rack at Il Leone in De Waterkant yesterday. Has SA Merlot turned a corner? Always the weakest of the big five reds (IMHO) Akkerdal turns up the dial of French finesse on this Merlot to the max.