Nitida Semillon 2010

Woodland frangipani dripping renosterveld honey, wild gooseberries, a sense of subtle nettles or cloves. For all foods Eastern, prawns or artichokes with aioli sauce.

variety : Semillon [ 95% Semillon 5% Sauvignon Blanc ]

winery : Nitida

winemaker : RJ Botha

wine of origin : Durbanville

analysis : alc : 13.32 % vol rs : 3.8 g/l pH : 3.37 ta : 7 g/l

type : White style : Dry body : Medium taste : Fruity wooded

pack : Bottle closure : Cork

ageing : The wine is showing huge potential and will drink well until 2015.

in the vineyard : The cold and wet September in 2009 made for late budding, hence cooler growing and final ripening period (from early March to late March). Particularly important for semillon with its soft skins, the dry season ensured healthy grapes (unlike 2008) and just like sauvignon blanc, some stress adds to flavour complexity. Normal levels of vegetative growth meant simple canopy management - with leaf break out on the east side & underneath the bunches on the west side to get some heat from the soil into the bunch zone.

about the harvest: We picked a little bit riper this year for a fruit driven wine. Volumes showed a slight decrease again this year which contributed to the intensity of flavours.

in the cellar : We have stayed with our award winning formula of fermenting 50% of the semillon in barrels (French new, 2nd and 3rd fill) in a chardonnay style (yeasts) sur lie, with weekly battonage for the 10 weeks it is in barrel. The balance is tank fermented in a sauvignon blanc style keeping it as reductive as possible (adds freshness).

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