Ladybird Claypot Merlot 2020
By Christian Eedes, 15 November 2024
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Merlot, for all its popularity among consumers, seems to struggle to reach any great hights under local conditions. One winemaker who always has seemed to have a handle on it is Francois van Zyl of Ladybird or what was Laibach prior to its purchase by Kanonkop.
The current-release 2020 (R320 a bottle) will be the last vintage of Van Zyl’s Claypot Merlot, and very good it is, too. Matured for 24 months in 100% new barrels, the nose shows red and black berries, rose, herbs and a touch of oystershell while the palate is well structured with great depth of fruit, fresh acidity and silky tannins. Detailed and refined. Alc: 14.74%.
CE’s rating: 94/100.
Check out our South African wine ratings database.
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Gareth | 19 November 2024
Sad that this will be the last vintage, I was looking forward to the 2021.
Do you know what will happen to the grapes going forward?
Christian Eedes | 20 November 2024
Hi Gareth, Francois van Zyl, somewhat ruefully, says that the Kanonkop decision makers don’t yet know what to do with the grapes but are busy with a few experiments…