Vineyard
SOURCE: This 2009 Shiraz was produced from fully ripe grapes harvested from Haut Espoir in the Franschhoek region.
WEATHER: Prior to ripening, the conditions were cool and wet, with high winter rainfall.
HARVESTING: The grapes were hand harvested in the coolness of early mornings on the 26th February and 10th March.
Cellar
VINIFICATION: After de-stemming the berries were fermented to dryness in small open fermentation tanks. With these small tanks, experimentation with fermentation is easier to manage. Spontaneous Malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels took place, and matured for 20 months. Left to settle in tank before bottling, this wine underwent a light filtration at bottling.
Tasting & Analysis
TASTING NOTES: This elegant wine shows great restraint on the palate, with an abundance of red fruit and cherries. Complexity is added from sensitive oaking and barrel maturation.
FOOD ACCOMPANIMENT: Rich stews, barbecued meat and matured hard cheeses. This wine is released ready to drink and will develop further with bottle ageing.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: Alc. 14.90% - pH 3.6 Total acid 6.3 g/l Residual Sugar 3.5 g/l
PRODUCTION: 2 199 bottles