variety : Viognier [ 100% Viognier ]
winemaker : Anthony de Jager
wine of origin : Coastal
analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol rs : 2.6 g/l pH : 3.36 ta : 5.6 g/l
type : White style : Dry body : Full taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle closure : Screwcap
in the vineyard : The fruit is sourced from two farms - primarily from our vineyards at Fairview and from the Primo farm in Agter-Paarl. The trellised Fairview vines grow on the slopes of Paarl mountain, on decomposed granite soils. The Primo farm is on Glenrosa soils, and vines are trellised and unirrigated.
in the cellar : The grapes were picked ripe, once the skin changed to a slight yellow colour on the shoulder of the bunch. At this stage the rather firm Viognier tannins are riper and less astringent. The grapes were picked early morning and whole bunch pressed. Once settled, the juice was fermented in a combination of 10% new French oak, 40% 2nd and 3rd fill French oak, and 50% in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine was left sur lie for ten months, with fortnightly battonage. Limited malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in the barrel component during this time, but this is no more than 15%. The wine is then blended and prepared for bottling.