La Motte Hanneli R 2009

The combination of a good vintage and 36 months of wood maturation produced a wine with exceptional depth, complexity and personality. The intense, distinctive nose shows rose-petal perfume, with blackberry and mulberry fruit, as well as cinnamon and black pepper spices. On the palate there are powdery tannins, surrounded by a fleshy fullness and lingering minerally freshness.

To buy our wines in South Africa, please click here

variety : Shiraz [ 53% Shiraz, 25% Grenache, 8% Carignan, 8% Cinsaut, 6% Merlot ]

winery : La Motte

winemaker : Edmund Terblanche

wine of origin : Western Cape

analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol rs : 3.2 g/l pH : 3.53 ta : 6.3 g/l

type : Red style : Dry wooded

pack : Bottle closure : Cork

ageing : Enjoyed at its best between eight and twelve years after vintage.

in the vineyard : Origin
Grapes for this wine originate from different areas. The Shiraz (53%) is from Elim, Grenache (25%) from Darling, Carignan (8%) from Malmesbury, Cinsaut (8%) from the West Coast and Merlot (6%) from the Walker Bay area.

Vintage
A long winter influenced flowering and could be one of the reasons for lower yields, supported by very little rain during December and January (small bunches). A short heat wave early in December damaged some unprotected bunches, further impeding yields. Another yield-hampering factor was winds after veraison, which might have robbed the vines from moisture. Lower than average temperatures delayed the harvest by as much as two weeks. On the positive side, low temperatures and mild weather promoted good flavour protection and slow ripening. Ripening was at lower sugars, making for the production of elegant, accessible wines. This is arguably the best vintage the past ten years.

Viticulture

The Shiraz vineyards at Elim are trellised and grow in shale soil, with a layer of “koffieklip” (coffee stone). This, combined with the cool climate, produces wines with intense perfume flavours and a minerally palate.

The Grenache from Swartland originates from dry-land bush vines that grow in deep yellow Clovelly (weathered granite). Grapes with an attractive fruity character are produced here.

The Merlot vineyards of the Walker Bay area and the Carignan vineyards of Malmesbury grow in shale soils, while the 40 year old Cinsaut vines grow in sandy soil. The Carignan and Cinsaut grow on bush vines.

Grapes from the varying terroirs produce wines with depth and complexity.

about the harvest: The grapes were all harvested separately.

in the cellar : Wines in the blend were harvested, sorted, fermented and matured separately. The wines were matured separately in new 300-litre oak barrels. After 36 months the wine was blended and then bottled during July 2012. Only 3 900 bottles were produced.

email the winery

email this page

find our wines in :