Jordan Black Magic Merlot 2023

Jordan is one of Stellenbosch's established estates, working in South Africa's Coastal Region with three centuries of regional winemaking tradition behind it. Black Magic is a single-variety Merlot, the Bordeaux grape that ripens to a plush, dark-fruited red. Stellenbosch sits inland of the cool Atlantic and False Bay, whose breezes moderate the warm Cape climate and let the fruit ripen fully while keeping acidity. Its varied soils of decomposed granite and sandstone on the slopes give the wines body and grip. The vineyards are farmed sustainably. The wine is barrel aged, where slow oxygen exchange polishes Merlot's tannin and adds spice, toast and a touch of vanilla and cocoa that frame the ripe fruit. Expect a deep, dark red with a nose of ripe plum and black cherry over cocoa, dried herbs and spicy oak. The palate is full and structured, with ripe, rounded tannin, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. This is a wine with the weight and grip to age in the short term but plenty of fruit to drink now. Serve at 17 degrees and decant young bottles. It is built for roast and grilled red meat.