Our Merlot Story Continues: Meet De Tijger Merlot
A Merlot of place and memory, De Grendel Wines introduces De Tijger
De Grendel Wines has released the first vintage of its De Tijger Merlot 2022. For decades, the estate has focused on Merlot as one of its core expressions, a variety often underappreciated by critics but consistently enjoyed by South African wine lovers. The 2022 vintage continues this tradition, reflecting the character of the harvest and De Grendel’s estate’s connection to the land, its people, and a tradition of Merlot mastery.
De Tijger takes its name from the Tygerberg hill where De Grendel is located in Cape Town. From a distance, the yellow patches of indigenous Renosterveld vegetation resembled leopard spots. The early Dutch settlers, without a word for “leopard,” called it a tiger instead and so the Tygerberg was named. Today, those same Renosterveld habitats are among the most threatened in the Cape, and De Grendel is proud to protect them as a WWF Conservation Champion, ensuring that this heritage of nature and name endures.
Cellar Master Charles Hopkins and Winemaker Morgan Steyn have long believed that Merlot holds greater potential on South African soils than many give it credit for. De Tijger is a bolder, more structured interpretation of the variety that acknowledges De Grendel’s reputation as a producer that continues to master the art of Merlot.
The grapes for De Tijger were harvested from a block situated right above De Grendel’s cellar. This includes the estate’s oldest vines with a rare balance between growth and yield. On these south-western slopes of the Tygerberg, Malmesbury shale and clay underpin the roots, while a moderating maritime climate tempers the fruit.
As Hopkins explains, “We’ve always had demand for a Merlot with more weight, richness, and longevity. This site gives us that structure naturally, and with careful farming and winemaking, we can express it in a way that still feels authentically De Grendel.”
For Steyn, the significance is as much about restraint as abundance. Leaf-thinning, green harvesting, and deliberately low yields focus the vines’ energy into smaller berries and greater concentration. “This block is the oldest on the estate,” he notes. “That age delivers grapes of real intensity, and with our hands-off approach, the wine speaks of its place.”
The making of De Tijger cannot be separated from the life’s work of Hopkins, one of South Africa’s most respected winemakers. His philosophy has always been to honour the land and mentor the next generation. Having shaped De Grendel’s cellar from its inception in 2005, Hopkins remains as curious as ever, blending technical precision with instinct. His influence has guided young winemakers, including Steyn, who regards him as a mentor and inspiration.
It is this sense of continuity, from vineyard to cellar, that gives De Tijger its gravity. Where the estate’s signature Merlot has long offered approachability and balance, De Tijger offers South Africans a more profound interpretation. It is structured, age-worthy, yet still marked by elegance.
The 2022 vintage followed a late winter and spring, leading to a late harvest punctuated by three compact heatwaves in January. Despite the challenges, the vines yielded fruit of quality and quantity. Strict limits were imposed. Only 15 barrels were ultimately created.
Hand-harvested grapes were fermented in conical stainless-steel tanks using the “aerated pump-over” method to gently extract tannins. After pressing and racking, the wine spent 18 months in French oak, with 50% in new barrels and 50% in seasoned barrels.
In the glass, the wine gleams deep ruby, offering aromas of black cherries, dark plums, and cassis, threaded with cedar, mocha and tomato leaf. On the palate, it carries plush fruit framed by fine tannins and lifted by balanced acidity, with lingering notes of blackberry and espresso. While generous now, its structure and precision suggest a graceful decade of ageing ahead.
To release De Tijger is to make a statement, and that Merlot, often overlooked in favour of a blending component, deserves a place at the forefront of South African wine. It is also a reminder of the Tygerberg’s significance. It’s a name that honours the land on which De Grendel stands, and a mountain whose slopes have shaped the city’s skyline and its viticultural history.
As Hopkins reflects, “South Africa is still discovering its Merlot story. We want De Grendel to be part of writing that narrative, showing that Merlot here can be as layered, structured, and rewarding as anywhere in the world.”
Shop De Grendel’s De Tijger Merlot 2022 online, or at the estate’s tasting room and restaurant.