variety : Pinotage [ 100% Pinotage ]
winemaker : De Wet Viljoen
wine of origin : Coastal
analysis : alc : 14.5 % vol rs : 3.2 g/l pH : 3.69 ta : 5.7 g/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Light taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle closure : Cork
in the vineyard : Background
Grapes have been grown on Neethlingshof for more than 300 years or within 50 years of the Dutch East-India Company establishing a victualling station at the Cape to supply its passing ships. The farm was initially called De Wolvendans (The Dance of Wolves). Soon after full ownership of the farm was acquired by Johannes Henoch Neethling towards the end of the 1820s, the name was changed to Neethlingshof.
A member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, acknowledged for its protection of indigenous habitat, the 273 ha estate has set aside 116 ha for conservation. It cultivates both red and white varietals, with the bias marginally in favour of whites. The main white varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. The predominant soil types found on the farm are Oakleaf and Tukulu.
The vineyards
Grapes were sourced from 12-year-old south-east facing vineyards. Grafted onto Richter 99 rootstock and grown in deep red soil at 125m above sea level, the vines are trellised on a five-wire vertical hedge system and irrigated by means of an overhead sprinkler system.
in the cellar : Fermentation in rotation tanks took place at 25° to 28°C over six days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured for 14 months in a combination of French (80%) and American (20%) oak, with 43% in new barrels.