Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.37%
Residual Sugar 2.1 g/L
pH 3.4
Total Acidity 5.6 g/L
Calories (estimated) 120 kcal / glass
150ml glass120 kcal
750ml bottle600 kcal
Region Western Cape
Harvest Dates Young Block - picked on the 15th February 2018
Old Block - picked on the 21st February 2018
Brix at Harvest 23.6°
Sites Young Block; Old Block
Oak Aging 24 months
Oak Types French
Production Volume 6,680 bottles
Bottles6,680
Magnums514
Production Details The 2018 vintage was a continuation of the ongoing drought that has been hitting the Western Cape since 2015. These hot, dry conditions resulted in smaller berries which in turn made the crop substantially smaller. We were surprised to see that even with these hot conditions, our natural acidity levels remained stable which balanced the fruit intensity. We picked the young and the old block 6 days apart and fermented them separately. They remained separate during fermentation and maturation, only coming together in the final blend one month before bottling. We continued to experiment with adding stalks to the fermentation, up to 40% in some of the open fermenters. We felt that the tank portions were picking up tannin very easily and therefore we pressed earlier than normal, allowing the wine to settle and finish malolactic fermentation in tank before racking to barrel. Of the total barrel selection, 20% new Oak down to 6th fill with mostly French Oak being used. After 2 years in barrel, we made up the final barrel selection before bottling.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Dark brooding feel, cinnamon, touch of cigar box with violets and mace on the finish
Palate: Bold juicy fruit on entry with fresh tannin grip on mid-pallet. Hints of aniseed followed by dry spices to balance the fruit. The finish is long and dry and certainly needs a lot more time
▸ Sources (1)
Producer Information
Website
Address
Van Der Stel Pass, Bot River, 7185, Western Cape, South Africa
Phone
+27 (0) 28 001 0516
Email
Owner
Niels and Penny Verburg
Cellarmaster
Niels Verburg & Alice Verburg