in the vineyard : Grape Source: 100% from one dry-farmed, un-trellised bush vine; vineyard planted in 1977 in Perdeberg region
Vineyard info: 6.73 ha, 2654 vines/ha
Grapes were from bush vine vineyards on Malmesbury shale soils.
Ideal ripening conditions started the 2010 season, with cool temperatures prevailing. Strong winds resulted in some crop loss, but increased concentration of flavours in remaining fruit. Good winter rains in 2009 kept vineyards healthy throughout summer. Overall quality of wines looks very good indeed.
in the cellar : 40% of the wine was fermented in new 225L oak barrels and matured for 5 months on the lees; stirring for the first couple of months added richness and structure to the wine. Remaining 60% was fermented at 13 - 14°C in stainless steel tanks using selected wine yeasts to maintain fermentation aromas. Fined and filtered before bottling with screwcap closures.