Morgenster Wine Estate
Morgenster a 300-year-old wine estate was once part of the thriving farm Vergelegen which was owned by the Cape Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel. After van der Stel's recall in 1708, the property was divided into four. The section now known as Morgenster was bought by a Huguenot Jacques Malan who like a lot of them at the time fled religious persecution in France. It was 14 years later when he handed over the property to his son Daniel who was to father a family of 13 children.
His son Jacobus got a large house in the traditional H-shape, extensive outbuildings and a well-stocked wine cellar. Giulio Bertrand, who bought the farm in 1992, immediately set about restoring Morgenster under the guidance of architect Revel Fox.
Apart from olive trees, the Morgenster hillside today boasts the classic red grape varieties - Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon and Cabernet franc, Petit Verdot and more recently Italian varietals Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. The first new vineyards were planted in 1994 and today there are approximately 40 ha are under mainly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a plot of Petit Verdot.
- 2000 Morgenster Lourens River Valley - red fruits, spicebox and sandalwood that leads to a mature leathery finish.
- 2003 Morgenster Lourens River Valley - ripe raspberry, leather, sage and rosemary on the lifted nose with hints of cedar and cigar box.
- 2004 Morgenster Lourens River Valley - raspberry, crushed strawberry and a touch of leather intermingling with toffee aromas.
- 2005 Morgenster Lourens River Valley - touches of green bell pepper and dried herbs.
- 2006 Morgenster Lourens River Valley - intense, earthy bouquet with dark berries, red currant and a touch of scorched earth
- 2008 Morgenster Lourens River Valley - herbaceous bouquet and a little green around the edges.
- 2001 Morgenster Morgenster - scents of black peppery fruit, sloe, chestnut and sandalwood
2003 Morgenster Morgenster - vibrant red currant, raspberry, leather, cigar box and a touch of nutmeg.
- 2005 Morgenster Morgenster - subtle mint and cedar aromas with touches of red cherry and wild strawberries
- 2006 Morgenster Morgenster - blackberry, raspberry, bay leaf, white pepper and a touch of Provencal herbs
- 2008 Morgenster Morgenster - blackberry, mulberry and mint with just a touch of sage and dried herbs.
