Lanzerac Le Général 2008

A full-bodied, Cabernet-based blend with deep colour. It offers layers of black and red berry aromas, hints of currant and cacao on the nose and delivers a well-rounded amalgam of berries and chocolate on the palate that lingers on the aftertaste.

Serve between 16ºC-20ºC. Lanzerac Le Général will stand up well against Duck, Turkey, Roast Beef, Venison, Roast Lamb or simply to be enjoyed on its own

variety : Cabernet Sauvignon [ 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Shiraz, 20% Pinotage, 10% Malbec ]
winemaker : Wynand Lategan
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.91 % vol  rs : 4.3 g/l  pH : 3.45  ta : 5.8 g/l  va : 0.58 g/l  so2 : 110 mg/l  fso2 : 16 mg/l  
type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full   wooded
pack : Bottle  closure : Cork  

ageing : With potential to mature over a four to five year period.

in the vineyard : Vineyard blocks: Grapes of the same selected vineyard blocks are used every year.
Area: Jonkershoek Stellenbosch
Crop size: 19 Tonne
Tons per ha: 8 t/ha
Altitude: Between 350 – 450m above sea level
Age of vines: 10 – 15 years old
Rootstock: Richter 110; 101-14
Clones: CS 27A, SH 1, PI 48, MC 1
Soil: Deep, well drained red soils
Plant direction: East/West
Trellising: 5-wire Perold system. Sufficient to accommodate the vigour of the vines and to ensure good distribution of shoots, leaves and bunches
Density: Average of 2775 vines/ha
Space between rows: 2.4 – 3m
Space between vines: 1 – 1.5m
Irrigation: Micro spitters and drip irrigation controlled by computer system through moisture meters and tensiometers. This enables stress management of the vines to produce optimum fruit quality. This is done in accordance with the water retention ability of the specific vineyard block.
Canopy management: Optimal balance between vigour and crop load is achieved by pruning through the correct number of bearer eyes (2). Summer manipulation in the form of suckering, shoot thinning and positioning complement the winter pruning.

about the harvest: All harvesting is done by hand. Extreme care is taken not to damage grapes and only healthy grapes are picked. Grapes are picked when fully ripe.
Harvest date: From beginning February to end March. Specific picking date for each variety is different.

in the cellar : This blend, made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Shiraz, 20% Pinotage and 10% Malbec was matured in a combination of new and 2nd fill 300? french oak barrels for a period of 18 months.

The four wines were individually made with grapes from the best vineyards on Lanzerac. After crushing, the crushed grapes were cooled to 15ºC and left on the skins for 24 hours before inoculated with yeast to start the fermentation. During fermentation the wine was pumped over daily every 6 hours for about 30 minutes to extract colour, tannin and flavour and also to cool the cap. The fermentation temperature never exceeded 28ºC. After fermentation, the wines were drained off the skins and the skins were pressed. The wines then underwent malolactic fermentation in barrels, and then blended after the malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine spent another 18 months in French Oak barrels

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OTHER VINTAGES

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon