🏆 Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 — Platinum, 97 points
The Steenberg Merlot 2022 has been awarded a Platinum medal and an outstanding 97 points at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards — the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Platinum sits just below Best in Show, placing this Constantia Merlot among the very finest of more than 17,000 wines judged from 58 countries, and making it one of only eight South African Platinum winners. The accolade follows a Gold medal and the “Merlot of the Year” title at the 2026 London Wine Competition.

2022 Vintage — Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa

Steenberg, founded in 1682 as the very first farm in the Cape’s cool, ocean-influenced Constantia valley, is one of South Africa’s most historic estates. While the property is best known for its precise, sea-breeze-driven Sauvignon Blancs and Cap Classique sparkling wines, its red programme has matured into something distinct — reds that share the estate’s hallmark Constantia freshness rather than aiming for inland-style ripeness.

The Steenberg Merlot is single-varietal, drawn from estate vineyards on the cooler maritime flanks of the property. Hand-harvested and gently extracted; fermented in stainless steel for fruit precision then matured for around 18 months in French oak (a modest share new) to add structure without dominating. Bottled with restraint to keep the maritime cool-climate signature intact.

The 2022 release shows ripe black cherry, plum and a touch of cassis on the nose, lifted by a Constantia-typical herbal-mineral edge — fennel, bay leaf and crushed pencil shavings. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with fine, dusty tannins and a clean cool-climate acidity that keeps it lively to the finish. A more elegant, food-friendly Merlot than the South African norm — excellent with roast lamb, mushroom risotto, or rare beef.