We visited Plaisir de Merle on one of our day trips through the winelands in search of small, quiet, nondescript wineries. Established in 1693, this farm exudes European charm reminiscent of the early Dutch and French settlers of that time. Originally given to the Marais family by the Cape Governor Simon van der Stel and passed on through generations to the Hugo family in the 19th century, the farm is now owned by the Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery (Distell).
As we drove up the long windy road to the tasting room, I could just picture old horse and carriages struggling along the path. As you get to the parking area, you can see the extent of the farm, its well-kept gardens and original buildings. Im sure there were many high-society events housed in the Manor House. Nowadays, the Manor House provides a grand conference/wedding venue incumbent of the style and grace in which it was originally built. Throughout the farm, there are buildings/sculptures adding to the old-world charm, such as sculptures of The Putti which are thought to be companions to the god of wine and an ornate frieze at the cellars entrance.
Upon entering the tasting venue, the grandeur of the building takes your breath away and you feel as though you have stepped back in time to the 18th century. Comfortable arm chairs and antique yellow-wood furniture enhance the feel of the room. I can just imagine the stories that the furniture would have to tell, if that was at all possible. For example, there was an oriental corner piece which might have come with the ships en route from the East as well as a magnificent china cabinet, similar to those in the dining room of the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. The original bulk-heads are exposed, adding to the European design of the room and numerous painting adorn the walls. An outside area is also available where the view of the surrounding mountains can be enjoyed.
On to the wine. We decided to opt for the standard tasting which includes 4 wines. We started with the Grand Brut (2013). Aged in steel tanks, this wine is not as complex as other Bruts on the market and personally, I prefer a pure Chardonnay based MCC with a more yeasty aftertaste. We moved on to the Chardonnay. Butterscotch was the first thing that came to my mind after the first sip, then toasted almonds and a hint of lemon. In my opinion, this is by far one of the best wooded Chardonnays on the market and at R105, it is exceptionally well-priced. We followed with reds and started with the Petit Plaisir, a wine with wooded depth and aromas of berries and vanilla. This was followed by the Cabernet Saviougnon which is a heavy, dry wine with aromas of plum. Although we did not taste their premium wines, we did have a glass of the Shiraz and Grand Plaisir, both of which were outstanding. The option to have a glass of wine after the tasting is a great addition to the options available at this farm, so are the cheese platters and fudge tasting.
