La Motte Hanneli R 2011

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

The wine is a blend of Shiraz (80%), Petit Syrah (10%) and Tempranillo (10%). The largest amount of the Shiraz originate from Elim and the rest from Bot River. The Petit Syrah and Temperanillo are from Franschhoek.

Vintage
Budding started early as a result of a warm August, while spring and flowering time turned cold again, causing unfavourable conditions. Summer was dry, with a heat wave in early January, while generally dry and hot conditions caused harvest-time to be even earlier. Initially, the season was described as average, but the wine developed well in the barrels and is elegant and well balanced.

Viticulture
The Shiraz vineyards of Elim are trellised and grow in shale with a layer of “koffieklip” (coffee stone). This, combined with the cool climate, produces wines with intense perfume flavours and a minerally palate. Bot River’s Shiraz vineyards grow in more shallow, denser shale and produce wines with a high tannin content and a dark colour. The Franschhoek vineyards grow in deep, sandy soil of weathered granite and sandstone and produce elegant wines with a creamy texture. Because the grapes originate from diverse terroirs, the wines have depth and complexity.

Wines in the blend were harvested, sorted and fermented separately, then matured separately in 300-litre oak barrels. After 40 months’ maturation the wines were blended and then bottled during August 2015. Only 3 300 bottles were produced.

The combination of a good vintage and 40 months of wood maturation has produced a wine with exceptional depth, complexity and personality. The intensely distinctive nose shows rose petal perfume with black berry and mulberry fruit, as well as cinnamon and black pepper spice. An elegant wine with a lively presence and lingering after-taste.