Plaisir de Merle Estate

1. Plaisir de Merle Estate

2. PLAISIR DE MERLE - Strategy Ideally suited for gifting channel, premium retail outlets, restaurants and hotels LOGO

3. PLAISIR DE MERLE - History • The history of Plaisir de Merle is a story of exceptional people who helped create a proud viticultural heritage. • The farm dates back to 1687 when the French Huguenot, Charles Marais and his family were granted land by Governor Simon van der Stel. They named the farm Le Plessis Marly after their small village in France. • Despite the untimely death of Charles Marais, the farm prospered under his descendants so that when the manor house was completed in 1764, Le Plessis Marly boasted 35 000 vines. The farm was eventually passed on to the Hugo family at the beginning of the 19th century through the marriage of Rachel Jacoba Marais to Daniel Hugo. The farm changed hands several more times before being purchased by Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery in 1964. • In 1993 a totally new cellar was opened. A gentle moat surrounds the cellar, softening the facade while inside, the abundant use of wood contrasts with the technologically advanced stainless steel tanks and machinery. • Appropriately the frieze that graces the cellar entrance pays tribute to and celebrates the farm’s early pioneers whose toil has left such a valuable legacy. • Plaisir De Merle was launched in 1994 LOGO

4. PLAISIR DE MERLE – Our cellarmaster: Niel Bester • Niel Bester has been cellarmaster at Plaisir de Merle since the new cellar was completed in 1993. • In that time his challenge has been to define the true Plaisir de Merle style. • Bester, a B Sc Agriculture major in viticulture and oenology from the University of Stellenbosch, spent four years as a winemaker for Distell, followed by another three at Nederburg. • He attributes his style of winemaking to the 1992 harvest he spent at Chateau Margaux with Dr Paul Pontallier • His stint there, together with the skills and input from Pontallier's international expertise, have had a great impact on the winemaking philosophy, which is one of simplicity rather than the use of expansive technology. • He strives is for fruity tannins rather than hard tannins, wine with ageing potential, yet ready to drink while still quite young and with an emphasis on being food-friendly. Capturing as much fruit flavours as possible is of paramount importance as well as the discreet use of small wood. The objective is to consistently produce from the farm’s top quality grapes consistently special wines that will be internationally acceptable • “We’re striving for fruity tannins rather than hard tannins, wine with ageing potential, yet ready to drink while still relatively young. The emphasis is on capturing as much fruit flavour as possible, and on the discreet use of small wood,” • Niel Bester LOGO Image of Winemaker

5. PLAISIR DE MERLE - Awards • Gold at the Swiss International Awards for both the Cabernet and the Merlot, and best Chardonnay & Gold medal. • International Wine Challenge - Gold for the Merlot • Grand Gold for the Cabernet Sauvignon at Selection Mondiales and Gold at the Concours Mondial De Bruxelles • Consistently rated 4- 4 ½ stars in the John Platter Guide LOGO

6. About 400 hectares are planted with a variety of noble grape cultivars such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Malbec. An area of only about 80 hectares of prime vineyards has been set aside for the Plaisir de Merle cellar. Winemaker Niel Bester attributes the success of his wines to being able to work with great fruit coming from a very unique terrain and the invaluable input from his viticulture team. PLAISIR DE MERLE – Production Capacity • Modern Plaisir de Merle is one of the largest single continuous wine farms in the Cape, spreading across 974 hectares. Of this area about 400 hectares are planted with a variety of noble grape cultivars such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Malbec, and an area of only about 80 hectares of prime vineyards has been set aside for the Plaisir de Merle cellar. • Yield is between 7-10 ton per hectare. The total harvest per year is 750 tonnes of which just under 50% is specially selected for use in the Plaisir de Merle brand. • In 2005 Plaisir De Merle were one of the first farms to have been awarded membership of the Biodiversity and wine Initiative (BWI) in recognition of its efforts to re-establish the natural habitat on large areas. • Ecological awareness is an important concern at Plaisir De Merle

7. PLAISIR DE MERLE • CHARACTERISTICS OF WINE • A unique feature of the farm is its diversity of soils, slopes and elevations which are closely linked with the quality of Plaisir de Merle wines. • The highest level is 500 metres above sea-level and the lowest 140 metres. Well-drained weathered granite soils (predominantly Tukulu and Hutton) with good water retention allow minimal irrigation with most vineyards dry land. • Because the slopes face different directions and experience varying wind conditions, it is possible to fine-tune the sunlight exposure and meso-climate of each vineyard block and fine tune the wines to truly represent the Plaisir de Merle terroir. ADD IMAGES

8. PLAISIR DE MERLE – Export Markets • COUNTRIES • Denmark • Germany • Un Arab Emirates • Belgium • Canada • Taiwan • Jamaica • Brazil • United Kingdom • United States • Japan • Ireland • Greece • Netherlands • Australia • China • Argentina • Singapore • Indonesia BRAND LOGO IMAGE

9. PLAISIR DE MERLE – Promotional event BRAND LOGO

10. PLAISIR DE MERLE – Magazine articles BRAND LOGO

11. PLAISIR DE MERLE POINT OF SALE MATERIAL THAT WORK BRAND LOGO

12. PLAISIR DE MERLE – The product range

13. PLAISIR DE MERLE – in market stock Plaisir De Merle Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Accolades 4 Star Platter Wine Guide Rating Analysis Alcohol : 14.45 % by volume pH : 3.57 RS : 1.5 g/l Total Acid : 6,1 g/l Appellation : Paarl Balling : Between 24.2° and 25.5° Balling Yield : Tasting Notes Lots of red berry flavours with plum and prunes with vanilla and dark chocolate in the background. Full–bodied with dark chocolate and ripe fruit back by spices and soft tannins.  Ageing Potential This wine will mature well for ten years and more. PACK SHOT LOGO

14. PLAISIR DE MERLE – in market stock Plaisir De Merle Grand Plaisir 2007 Accolades 4 Star Platter wine Guide Rating Analysis Alcohol : 14% pH :3,51 RS : 1,24 Total Acid : 6,13 Appellation : Paarl Balling : 24 °-25,5 ° Yield : Tasting Notes Aromatic red berries, spicy sweet tones with cedar and subtle vanilla aromas. Blackcurrant and a variety of red berries. Sweet, ripe fruit. Tannins firm and oak well integrated with fruit. Full-bodied with oak adding hints of tobacco and cedar. Ageing Potential The tannins are ripe and accessible with a soft finish but will provide structure for a long ageing period in the bottle of between 7 and 12 years. PACK SHOT LOGO

15. The wine is ready to drink now, but it will gain in complexity and character with further cellaring for 3 - 7 years. PLAISIR DE MERLE – in market stock Plaisir De Merle Shiraz 2008 Accolades 4 Star Platter Wine Guide Rating Analysis Alcohol : 14% pH : 3,7 RS : 2,2g Total Acid : 5,69 Appellation : Paarl Balling : 24 °-25,5 ° Yield : Tasting Notes Ruby garnet Aromas of sweet spices, red berry fruit with a hint sweet vanilla and cedar oak. Full-bodied, dark red fruit, soft-textured, mouth-filling with spicy and smoky oak flavours that linger on the aftertaste. Ageing Potential The wine is ready to drink now, but it will gain in complexity and character with further cellaring for 3 - 7 years. PACK SHOT LOGO

16. PLAISIR DE MERLE – Market Expectations THANK YOU LOGO