The Mentors Perold Tributum 2020

ageing : 

Enjoy now or cellar for eight to ten years from vintage.

This wine is a blend of varieties from regions and sites that have consistently produced wines of outstanding quality and style. In making The
Mentors Perold we set out to produce a wine that over time will be recognized as the ultra-premium benchmark in South Africa. Only the best varieties, regions and sites are therefore considered.

Our winemaking focuses on balanced structure, concentration and finesse. We utilize a combination of whole-berry fermentation and gentle pump-overs to ensure every bit of flavour is captured, with Pinotage taking priority.

For this specific wine, the bunches were handpicked and sorted to ensure only the best of each variety went into the blend. After fermentation, the most promising wines of each cultivar were chosen to mature further in barrel. After 12 months, the best wines were singled out and aged for another six months. This wine is truly about selecting the best-of-the-best.

The 2019 season showed great promise with improved winter rains. However, variable weather conditions, with continuous temperature fluctuations, resulted in inconsistent bud break, uneven flowering and set.  Followed by slow and uneven ripening. Reds were most affected and overall yields were down. White varieties, except for the lower yields on Sauvignon Blanc, were as expected. The challenges are not without rewards: whites are bright and flavourful with good aromatics. Reds have soft tannins with rich fruit and generosity.

After fermentation, the most promising wines of each cultivar were chosen to mature further in barrel. After 12 months, the best wines were singled out and aged for another six months. This wine is truly about selecting the best-of-the-best. The wine was matured for 18 months in first-fill French oak barrels.