The newly released Lanzerac Merlot 2013 is now available at the Tasting Room for R120 per bottle. The 2013 Merlot has an excellent deep red colour with ripe red berries, cocoa, slight mint and chocolate on the nose. On the palate the wine shows a good balance and tannin structure, rich body with fruit and a lingering aftertaste. Enjoy with tomato-based Italian dishes; caramelised roast vegetables; mild to medium hard cheese; crispy duck pancakes; rabbit casserole with apricots and prunes. This wine has an ageing potential of 10 years if stored in optimal conditions.

Download the Merlot 2013 tasting note here

1. Enjoy it with chocolate.

Whenever you are visiting our Tasting Room again, why not try the Lanzerac Merlot 2013 with the Dark Cherry Cigar Chocolate. Priced at R55 per slab.

The intense cherry on the nose of the chocolate matches the wine in sublime complement… The red fruit and deep tobacco flavor lingering in the Merlot/Pinotage is beautifully accentuated by the smoky tobacco notes in the dark Chocolate. Simply irresistible…

Wine and chocolate pairings are offered daily between 9h00 and 17h30 at our Tasting Room.

2. Enjoy it with a Merlot & Chocolate Mousse dessert.

Makes: 6

Ingredients:

170g    Dark Chocolate (I use Valrhona Manjari 64%)
4          whole Eggs, Separated
24tsp   Castor Sugar
1/2cup  Lanzerac Merlot
2/3cup  Whipping Cream, Very Cold

Method:

• I always start by placing a medium mixing bowl and mixer beaters into the freezer, to get nice and cold for when I whip the cream.
• Place water in a double boiler and bring to a low simmer. Place the chocolate into the top pan and leave to melt.
• With a hand mixer, whip the egg yolks with the sugar till it becomes light and creamy. Add the melted chocolate and wine.
• Put the cream in the bowl that came out of the freezer and whip until it becomes stiff. Add the cream to the chocolate mixture and combine with a spatula until evenly combined. Using clean beaters, whip the egg whites until they become stiff and form peaks. Fold egg whites into the chocolate mixture.
• Spoon mixture into 6 serving glasses and put in the fridge overnight.
• Serving suggestion: fresh berries, a little whipped vanilla cream and shavings of dark chocolate on top.

3. Enjoy it with Cheese

There are only two strict rules for pairing Wine and Cheese. The first rule is to match acidity. Tart wines should pair with sharper cheeses and mellow wines should pair with creamier cheeses. The second rule is to match power. Do not let a strong wine overpower a mild cheese, or vice versa. One additional tip, albeit not a rule, is to create a wine and cheese pairing by selecting products from the same region of the world. This brings in the element of terroir, which describes how foods get their qualities from the earth and the climate, and that a wine and a cheese from the same region should share complementary properties. Enjoy Merlot with Camembert, Gruyere, Gouda or a Pecorino. To visit the Lanzerac Deli to purchase your favourite cheese to enjoy with our wines.

The Deli at Lanzerac also offers Cheese, Cured & Cold Meats and Ploughman’s Platters seven days a week. For reservations contact021 888 5516.

Order your case of Merlot online or with Zelda Furstenburg on [email protected] or call 021 886 5641 for more information.