International Wine Challenge 2005 - Gold
Colour: Deep ruby red.
Bouquet: Elegant aromas of fine oak, cedar, vanilla, followed through by a rush of ripe, dark berry fruit combined with hints of mint and chocolate.
Taste: On the palate the wine is smooth and silky with a slight cassis and mulberry aftertaste backed by ripe tannins.
The winemaker recommends serving with red meat dishes.
variety : Cabernet Sauvignon [ 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 8% Shiraz ]
winemaker : De Wet Viljoen
wine of origin : Coastal
analysis : alc : 14.42 % vol rs : 3.47 g/l pH : 3.51 ta : 5.76 g/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Full taste : Fragrant wooded
pack : Bottle
in the vineyard : The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was planted in 1987 on north-westerly facing slopes, situated at 120 m above sea level. The Shiraz, planted in 1985 on north-westerly slope and situated at 140 m above sea level. The Cabernet Franc vineyard grown in Tukulu soil was planted in 1987 on south-westerly slopes, situated at 125 m above sea level.
These vineyards are grafted onto R99, 110 and 101-4 rootstocks and trellised, using a five-wire vertical fence, with the exception of the Merlot, which was planted in 1985, facing south-easterly and situated at 220 m above sea level. The Merlot vines are grafted onto nematode-resistant Richter 99 and 110 rootstocks and trellised on a five-wire system.
The yield from all the vineyards was restricted to an average of 5 tons per hectare to further enhance the quality of the fruit.
in the cellar : After destalking and crushing, the mash was fermented separately in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks after adding a selected, pure yeast culture. Fermentation took place at 28°C and lasted seven days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured in French and American oak 300 litre barrels for a period of 12 months, after which the wine was fined and bottled.