It is called Frans Malan and is produced by the South African winery Simonsig. It is a structured red wine that pays tribute to the winery's founder, Frans Malan, a pioneer of South African viticulture and creator of the famous Stellenbosch Wine Route in 1971. A Cape Blend, composed of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, from Stellenbosch. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, tempered by Atlantic Ocean breezes. Here, the conditions are simply ideal for quality viticulture. The grapes are harvested by hand and selected directly in the vineyard. After two days of cold maceration, the Pinotage ferments for 6 days with frequent punching down, the Cabernet Sauvignon much longer, with pumping over 3-4 times a day. Finally, the Merlot ferments for about 9 days, also with 3 pump-overs per day. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of steel tanks and barrels, and the wine is then aged for about 13 months in French and American oak barrels, 57% of which are new and 43% second-use. In the glass, Frans Malan is an intense red colour. The nose offers an explosion of blackberry and cherry, accompanied by notes of vanilla and wood. On the palate, it reveals a pleasant freshness and a long, persistent finish, with good structure and soft tannins. Frans Malan pairs well with red meat dishes such as beef fillet, roast duck and ostrich fillet.