variety : Pinotage [ 63% Pinotage, 37% Shiraz ]
winemaker : Asara Winemaking Team
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 15.5 % vol rs : 9.8 g/l pH : 3.41 ta : 6.4 g/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Full taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Cork
in the vineyard : The highest block on the farm, at 210m, is host to premium Pinotage at 16 years of age, with tiny yields of 3-4 tons per hectare. The vineyard is planted to deep Tukulu soil, both moisture- and nutrient rich. The Pinotage vines are less stressed and thus produce fruit that is fresher and more elegant, in the newer Pinotage style. The rows are planted northwest to southeast, attracting twice-daily doses of sunshine on the grapes. For the remainder of the day the canopy shades the grape, further allowing lengthened ripening. The highest are used for the Avalon, these vines are aged 11-15 years and yield at 4 tons per hectare. By withdrawing irrigation during ripening, the grapes very slightly dehydrate, concentrating spiciness and flavour. The row direction is southeast to northwest, producing a similar sunshine effect to the Pinotage grapes.
in the cellar : The grapes remain on the vines until they reach 23-24.5° Balling; at which point the stems are pinched to cut off moisture supply. The bunches remain on the vine for a further three weeks, reaching 30-31° Balling and weighing one third less due to the loss of water. The grapes are harvested in the coolness of morning into small lugs, sorted, and rushed to the cellar. A second whole bunch sorting ensures the utmost quality with minimal grape handling. After a gentle crushing, the juice is fermented at cooler temperatures, and the skins are submerged thrice daily. The wine is matured in old 300ℓ barriques, 80% French and 20% American, with 30% new barrels, for three years. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation takes place, contributing complexity to the wine.