• Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2021 — front bottle label
  • Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2021 — back bottle label
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Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2021

Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2021

TASTING PROFILE

Blackberry Cedar Dark Cherry Mocha Plum

Braised lamb shank, the pot on the back of the stove. Decant this plush Franschhoek Merlot an hour early — dark fruit, cedar, mocha to finish.

Preface Wine note
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Packing: 750 ml

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THE STORY

About this wine

A dry, full-bodied Merlot from WO Franschhoek, built on a cool vintage that ran harvest about two weeks late. Concentrated black cherry, blackberry, and plum, with cedar, fynbos, and wild fig over mocha — a broad, creamy texture, soft, round tannins, and a long, mocha-tinged finish.

Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2021 is a premium red wine from WO Franschhoek in South Africa. The grapes were harvested March 11–14, 2021, approximately two weeks later than usual because of a cooler growing season; the conditions produced higher acidity, strong vine growth, and good berry and bunch size. The wine was bottled on May 10, 2023, with production of 3,033 750 ml bottles and 121 magnums.

Worth knowing

The 2021 season did quiet work here. Cooler than usual, it pushed harvest about two weeks late and lifted acidity in the fruit — that slow build is where this rich, plush red finds its freshness and balance. The release stayed small, bottled May 10, 2023, to just 3,033 750 ml bottles and 121 magnums.

Blend

  • Merlot

CHARACTERISTICS AND TASTING TIPS OF THE Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2021

Tasting

Color: Dark garnet through the glass, breaking bright red at the rim.
Nose: Black cherry and blackberry lead, plum close behind, then cedar, fynbos, and wild fig layering in. Mocha sits underneath, and the deeper register carries mulberry, blackcurrant, and black plum.
Palate: Full-bodied and concentrated at the entry, black cherry and plum at the core and a complex turn through the middle. The texture is broad and creamy and plush, wrapped in polished French oak, the tannins soft and round.

Pairs Beautifully With

A must try with Char-grilled red meat, such as ribeye or lamb
A must try with Slow-braised beef or lamb with dark, caramelized sauces
A must try with Roast duck or venison with a dark berry jus

SEE DETAILS

Vineyards and mountains in Franschhoek, South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA, FRANSCHHOEK
Country
South Africa
Region
Franschhoek
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Merlot
Alcohol
14.5
STOCK
Available