The producer
Post House Vineyards occupies a ridge between Somerset West and Stellenbosch, with vineyards at the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains. The homestead formerly operated as the Helderberg Post Office, which inspired the Post House name. Red wines ferment with naturally occurring vineyard yeasts in open stainless steel tanks, while Stamp of Chenin is a barrel fermented, wooded Chenin Blanc. The range also includes Black Mail Merlot, Bulls Eye Cabernet Sauvignon, Merry Widow Shiraz and Penny Black.
Known for
Merlot reds and wooded Chenin
Notable facts
- Hermann Gebers bought the farm in 1981.
- The vineyard soils consist mainly of conglomerate gravel over clay.
- Red wines ferment in open stainless steel tanks with naturally occurring vineyard yeasts.
- The producer's current Black Mail is 100% Merlot.
From the atlas
Post House Vineyards
Post House Vineyards works from the Helderberg foothills, with Merlot reds and barrel fermented Chenin Blanc between Somerset West and Stellenbosch.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Base | Ridge between Somerset West and Stellenbosch |
| Main grapes | Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot |
| Signature wine | Black Mail Post House |
| Defining feature | Homestead formerly operated as the Helderberg Post Office |
The Producer
The Post House name comes from the homestead's earlier life as the Helderberg Post Office in the early 1900s. Hermann Gebers bought the farm in 1981, in the area between Somerset West and Stellenbosch.
Harvest begins with small fruit bins, sorting, light crushing and destemming. Red grapes ferment in open stainless steel tanks with naturally occurring vineyard yeasts at 28 to 30°C. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 225 litre French barrels, followed by 18 to 20 months of maturation with minimal handling.
White grapes remain on their skins for two hours, settle for one day, then go to barrel for fermentation. Wines are racked by gravity flow, with no mechanical pumps.
Place
The winery occupies a ridge between Somerset West and Stellenbosch, overlooking False Bay, Cape Point and the Helderberg Mountains. The vineyards lie at the foothills of those mountains, with red varieties on a gently west facing slope and Chenin Blanc on a cooler south facing slope.
The soil consists mainly of conglomerate gravel, 70 centimetres to one metre deep, over clay. The gravel and clay store water during the wet season and redistribute it to the vine roots during the dry season. Irrigation is supplementary, used mainly around véraison to help the fruit reach optimum maturity.
Post House uses four to six wire Vertical Shoot Positioned trellising across the vineyard.
Wines
The range places the wooded Stamp of Chenin beside varietal reds and several blends. The producer's current Black Mail is 100% Merlot. Other named wines include Bulls Eye Cabernet Sauvignon, Merry Widow Shiraz and Penny Black.
Black Mail Post House belongs to the red side of the range, while Stamp of Chenin is a barrel fermented, wooded Chenin Blanc. The bottles move between single grape varieties and blends, with Merlot and Chenin Blanc occupying the clearest red and white positions.
In The Glass
Black Mail brings blackcurrant, violet, eucalyptus, chocolate and a hint of mint. It is dense and complex, with tannins giving shape to a juicy, full finish. The eight to ten year maturation potential comes from that combination of fruit weight and tannin.
Stamp of Chenin has a creamy mouthfeel, soft acidity and a lingering finish. Barrel fermentation and wood give the white wine a broader texture than a fresh, unoaked style.
A Bottle To Understand It
Black Mail Post House is the first bottle to open. The 2017 vintage is Merlot from Post House Vineyards, and its geographical wording runs from Stellenbosch through Coastal Region to Western Cape. The label puts a named vintage beside a varietal red and a three level regional address.
Final Word
Post House Vineyards joins a Helderberg foothill vineyard to Merlot, Chenin Blanc and a range of varietal reds and blends. Its former post office homestead gives the producer its name, while the cellar handles red and white grapes through distinct fermentation and maturation methods.
Sources
- https://www.posthousewines.co.za/
- https://www.posthousewines.co.za/viticulture-and-winemaking/
- https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/5557901/
- https://www.posthousewines.co.za/range/
- https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/black-mail-5557901/