Cape Heights Merlot
Cape Heights Merlot
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- Style - Dry, Red
- Grape(s) - Merlot
- Region - Western Cape, South Africa
- Dietary - Vegetarian and Vegan
- Allergen - Sulphites - Myths vs. Facts
- ABV, Size - 14.0%, 75 cL
Bright and Juicy with Depth
Cape Heights Merlot is crafted with precision and passion, showcasing the best of South African terroir. Sourced from long-standing vineyards on the Swartland/Wellington borders and the Breede River Valley, this wine reflects a rich tapestry of flavours, thanks to the low rainfall, warm climate, and granite-based soils that add intriguing complexity to each sip.
Tasting Notes
In the glass, Cape Heights Merlot shines with a vibrant, deep ruby hue. The nose offers an inviting bouquet of ripe red berries, plum, and a subtle hint of spice. On the palate, this Merlot is rounded and juicy, unfolding generous flavours of hedgerow fruit, dark plum, and gentle spice, underscored by soft, elegant tannins. The finish is fresh, with a whisper of oak (10% aging) adding just a touch of refinement, perfect for a balanced, easy-drinking wine.
Perfect Serve
This versatile Merlot complements an array of dishes, from grilled lamb to pasta with tomato-based sauces. Try it with a chorizo and butterbean stew or a hearty plate of spicy sausages and mash for a truly comforting pairing. It’s also a lovely wine to enjoy solo, bringing warmth and character to any casual evening.
Craftsmanship and Terroir
Cape Heights Merlot benefits from traditional winemaking methods: grapes are hand-picked in mid-March, then destemmed and gently fermented in open-top fermenters. Pigeage, the delicate process of wetting the cap and aerating the wine, is performed four times daily at the start, then twice daily until fermentation completes, preserving the wine’s subtle elegance. Malolactic fermentation follows, after which the wine rests on its lees for extra depth. This hands-on approach, combined with a modest 10% oak aging, gives Cape Heights Merlot its smooth, rounded profile.
• Grape Variety: 100% Merlot
• Region: Western Cape, South Africa
• ABV: 14%
• Style: Bright, juicy, and medium-bodied with a fresh, gently spicy finish
Cape Heights Merlot is a celebration of the Western Cape’s unique terroir, offering a balance of ripe fruit and subtle sophistication. Perfect for cosy dinners or as an approachable yet elegant choice for any gathering.
Free UK delivery over £100 or from just £3.99
Free UK delivery over £100 or from just £3.99
Fast, reliable nationwide delivery straight to your door.
Free local delivery over £29 or from just £2.99
Free local delivery over £29 or from just £2.99
Orders over £29 are delivered free within 10 miles of our wine shop. For smaller orders, local delivery starts at just £2.99
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Not sure what to choose?
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Est. 2009 – Independent Retailer
Est. 2009 – Independent Retailer
Since 2009, we’ve stood behind every bottle. If you’re not happy with your wine, we’ll make it right.
The Small Print
The Small Print
We take care to keep product information accurate, but recipes can change. Always check labels for nutrition, dietary and allergen details. If you need specific advice, please talk to us.

Let customers speak for us
from 479 reviewsThis is a superb wine - full but not heavy, fruity and smooth. Perfect for sharing on an autumn evening.

Stunning depth and rich body. I can almost tell if a red wine is going to be good by the lack of a white rim around when you pour the glass. This has a lovely blood ted colour and delivers.

I'm just going to be honest here, I'm a Gavi Girl and have been trying to find this little gem for a while. It's absolutely delicious and so adaptable too. Thrilled with the price, delivery and service and happily ordering more!

A lovely drink and remarkably good value . Smooth and buttery with that unmistakable Napa terroir writ large. Nothing not to like.

Another fantastic wine tasting. But with a difference. Wine bottles concealed in black numbered bags 1-7. Black glasses. So we were unaware of what we were tasting, having to rely on taste and smell alone. We had tasting notes to guide our thoughts once we had made a few notes ourselves. It was great fun. I managed to at least figure out whether or not the wine was red. But missed the rose and mistook one white for red.
The Wine Shop tasting are great fun. Highly recommend.

Great evening getting confused and educated at the very interesting Mystery Wine Tasting with 7 secret wines in black bags to taste using black glasses so you couldn’t tell if it was white, rose, or red. Kelli and Caroline gave great guidance and helped us work through what we were smelling and tasting to get to a grape and country. My two fears were that (1) I wouldn’t recognise a Tempranillo (especially as it turned out to be one I have often purchased!) and (2) that I’d actually like a Merlot!!! (Luckily there wasn’t one 😂). Another brilliant wine tasting.

We really enjoyed the Rose Wine Tasting which showcased a great selection of styles so that there was something that suited everyone around our table . Really informative about the different production methods and busted some myths! Wine Shop Winscombe tastings are always great value and great fun.

The first time I tasted the Long Barn I paid £15 for a large glass in a upmarket town pub. £15!! Oh my though, it was delicious..
Full bodied, fruity with and intense spicy finish, I had to fight my partner for the rest of the glass once he’d been given a taste.
Imagine my delight when I found it here at Vinoshop for less than £15 for the bottle! I’ll take a cheeky box of 6 thanks!

Another great wine tasting, with an exciting range of Summer Wines. Starting with a surprisingly good gently sparkling Asti, with an outstanding Penfolds 311 Chardonnay, with some fresh Summery reds including a great, full bodied Cabernet Franc from Argentina. As ever, expertly curated and explained. Looking forward to the next tastings.

The dark fruit, hint of spice and chocolate make for a truly delicious Valpolicella! I’m here to order another six bottle.. yum! 😋

I am very much enjoying this whisky in the evening for a night cap. It is beautifully smooth, well balanced, with a elegant floral sweetness.

I recently shopped at vinoshop.co.uk and was really impressed. The website is easy to use, with helpful wine descriptions that made choosing the right bottle a lot simpler. I was looking for a gift for a Ruby anniversary, and their team suggested a stunning Portuguese red wine—it was perfect!
The checkout process was smooth, and my order arrived quickly, beautifully packaged. Plus, the customer service was fantastic—they were quick to answer my questions and offer great advice.
If you're after quality wines and excellent service, I highly recommend The Wine Shop. It’s a great experience from start to finish.

Thank you so much for the recommendation, it went beautifully with the mackerel we had last night.

Just right for sharing with my visiting family and now for supping on the Isles of Scilly.
Thank you Matthew and Kelli (and new team member Carolyn? whom I have yet to meet!). Great to hear about your new business plans. J.

Pre-selected white wine case of 12, a lovely selection perfect for summer bbq’s and entertaining. Super fast delivery too.