Meinert Wine Farm
The history behind the Meinert Wines is quite a recent one ? unlike most of the other farms in the area which hark back to Simon van der Stel. Martin Meinert (who is from a Namibian printing and publishing family) bought 11,5ha in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch in 1987.
It began life with the unprepossessing title at the time of “Remainder of Farm 78, District of Stellenbosch”. But since 1975 it has been planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage. Because most of the crop was attacked by a leaf-roll virus, replanting began in 1989. This process was finally completed in 2008. In 1997 an adjoining parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (planted in 1989) was added to the property and it now covers the grand total of 16ha.
The winery was built in 1990 and a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon, was made in 1991 when Martin was still establishing Vergelegen’s vineyards and winery. Commercial production began in earnest with the 1997 vintage producing a Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. For their red wines, Meinert Wines rely primarily on Devon Crest Vineyards which lie on the slopes of the northern ridge and rise to 310m above sea level. The site has a grand view of False Bay.
Devon Crest is fully planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Cabernet franc, Petit Verdot and a small vineyard of Semillon. The last two varieties will produce their first crop in 2012. For the Sauvignon blanc grapes they rely on top growers in Elgin with its cool climate. These are wines from Meinert:
- Merlot 2008 - intense mix of redcurrant, mulberries, mint, spice and mineral tones
- Devon Crest 2006 - bright currant fruit rich
- Synchronicity 2006 - Sexy, modern blend, deeply fruited and spiced with vanilla berries
- La Barry Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - fresh, well-defined grassy lime aromas.
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ? red berries, cherry, spicy toasty oak and even liquorice
- Printer’s Ink Pinotage 2007 ? full bodied, elegant and rich
