Du Toitskloof Shiraz 2013

ageing : 

Enjoy now or drink within three years of bottling.

All the grapes for this wine came from within 5 km of the Du Toitskloof Cellar. The vines, grafted on Richter 99 and 110 rootstocks, are grown in sandy, rocky soils. Based on soil moisture levels, as measured by neutron hydrometers in the vineyards, controlled irrigation is applied. This practice ensures small berries with an excellent skin to fruit ratio, providing an intense colour and flavour spectrum. Grapes were selected from both trellised and bush vine vineyards, and were picked when they reached optimum physiological ripeness.

The Shiraz is made from bush- and trellised vines that are blended together to produce wonderful smoky, spicy and mint flavours. The grapes were harvested at 25° Balling.

After crushing and destemming the mash was pumped into rotor tanks. The winemakers gave three days of cold soaking to extract maximum flavour and colour from the skins. Fermentation was started by inoculating a selected yeast strain. During fermentation, which occurred at 24 - 25°C, the rotor tanks were turned every six hours to ensure maximum extraction from the skins. After the initial fermentation, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, and was then aged for ten months, some in barrels and some in stainless steel tanks with staves.