This Bordeaux-style wine captures the essence of one of the world's great classical red cultivars to create a wine of elegance, power and individuality. The soil, sun and aspect of De Wetshof allows the wine to express freshness, power, elegance and a delicate plushness. Here intense dark berries, bittersweet chocolate and pencil shavings abound, while palate weight, depth of presence and a lasting finish enhance the experience of drinking a red wine of substance and pedigree. A wine to savour on its own.
The Naissance Cabernet Sauvignon can also be enjoyed with roast beef and lamb, fillet steak with a mushroom-based sauce and hearty beef, lamb or game casseroles.
variety : Cabernet Sauvignon [ 100% Cabernet Sauvignon ]
winemaker : Danie de Wet
wine of origin : Robertson
analysis : alc : 13.5 % vol rs : 3.0 g/l pH : 3.67 ta : 5.9 g/l so2 : 75 mg/l fso2 : 24 mg/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Medium taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle closure : Cork
in the vineyard : De Wetshof is a third generation wine estate in South Africa's Robertson Valley, where wine has been made for over 150 years. Here Danie de Wet, proprietor and cellarmaster, is assisted by sons and co-owners Johann (viticulture and marketing) and Peter (winemaker). De Wetshof Estate is a pioneer of noble white wines in South Africa and has also introduced superior red cultivars to the Robertson Wine Valley.
On De Wetshof a firm belief prevails, namely that one cannot know where you are going unless you know where you have come from. This is why the history of De Wetshof's vineyards plays a profound role in determining present and future wine quality. Since the early 1970's meticulous records have been kept on each vineyard as to the plants' reaction to soil-types, irrigation and the vagaries of climate, as well as their development and progress over the years. Each vineyard is thus vinified separately during the wine-making process, the wine-makers having a clear understanding of what the fruit of each vineyard's labour is going to deliver during a specific year.
This commitment to site-specific vineyard management and wine-making has been an integral part of the De Wetshof ethos from the outset and remains a vital and non-negotiable aspect of all the Estate's wines.
Origin
Wine of Origin De Wetshof Estate, Robertson, South Africa
Climate
The Robertson Valley is characterised by cold winters and sunny summers, with an average annual rainfall of 350 - 400mm. In summer a fresh southerly breeze from the Cape Agulhas coast has a cooling effect on the vineyards, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly and in perfect balance. The dry climate and the bracing breeze keeps pests to a minimum, resulting in sparse spraying programmes.
Irrigation
Computerised irrigation systems linked to weather station data and the monitoring of soil moisture-content ensures the vines are given the correct amount of water needed to produce grapes of optimum ripeness and developed flavours.
Soils
An abundance of free limestone is complemented by a heavy clay component ensuring excellent water-retention. This adds complexity and structure to the wines, allowing optimum varietal expression with classic red wine flavours of dark fruit, chocolate and pencil shavings, flavours of soft grapefruit and nuts.
Age of the vines: 5 - 23 years
Vines per hectare: 4,500
Rootstock: Richter 99, 110 101/14
Planting row: 2,4m x 1m and 1,83m x 1,2m
Trellising style: 6 wire fence system cordon with spur pruning
Yield: 8 tons per hectare
in the cellar : Danie de Wet adjusts his methods of winemaking from year to year, according to weather conditions and grape quality, in the belief that wine is made in the vineyard and not in the cellar.
Cooper: French oak barrels for De Wetshof are specially selected from specific coopers to enhance the quality of the fruit.
Barrel maturation: 12 months