La Petite Ferme Verdict

La Petite Ferme Verdict from Franschhoek, South Africa, A blend of Cab/Franc, Merlot and Cab/Sauv. Verdict a decision on an issue, an opinion or a judgment. This well-structured wine is deep garnet in color, black fruits, ripe mulberries, cherries and spice on the nose. A wonderfully structured mouthfeel, ending elegantly soft and silky a wine made only in exceptional years. Aged in barrels for 17 months.

Cabernet Sauvignon is best known in Bordeaux where, together with merlot and cabernet franc, it produces high-class wines. It needs a lot of heat to ripen, otherwise it will become green and juicy with a taste of green pepper. Too much heat makes it soft and jam-like, with a taste of blackcurrants. Cabernet Sauvignon produces very aromatic wines with scents of blackcurrant, vanilla, spices (pepper), tobacco, plum, cherry, toasted bread and cedar. The wines usually have a long shelf life, have a lot of tannin and in principle have to mature in barriques. Cabernet Franc is a fairly productive variety. It is in fact the original cabernet grape. The much more famous Cabernet Sauvignon is a descendant of the Cabernet Franc. It probably comes from Bordeaux where it is one of the classic components of Bordeaux wines. In the 17th century it was taken to the Loire Valley where it was subsequently successfully planted. Cabernet Franc likes calcareous gravel, sand and clay soils and ripens about ten days earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. It thrives very well in cooler soils. Merlot is one of the oldest Vitis vinifera varieties that ripens earlier than Carbernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Merlot is important in Bordeaux, especially in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. Merlot plantings have increased significantly in recent years. The grape is very popular worldwide and people are increasingly realizing that Merlot must be planted in a fairly cool vineyard. This grape produces dark, cool, soft, spicy and fruity wines.