Longridge Pinotage 2000

Mulberry, pepper and wild game-like characteristics support the bold structure and long, refined finish.

variety : Pinotage [ Pinotage ]

winery : Longridge Wine Estate

winemaker : Frans Smit

wine of origin : Helderberg

analysis : alc : 13.94 % vol rs : 2.14 g/l pH : 3.87 ta : 4.73 g/l

pack : Bottle

ageing : Ideally 10 - 15 years from date of harvest but can be
drunk earlier.

in the vineyard : Area/Origin: Helderberg, a ward of the Stellenbosch region 60 â€“ 100 meters above sea level

Soil type: Escourt - Sandy soil with clay layer at the bottom which acts like a sponge, absorbing moisture and releasing water when rain is minimal.

Vine Age: 15 â€“ 20 years.
Vine density: 3500 â€“ 4000 vines per hectare
Training: Bush vine.
Yield: 4 â€“ 8 tons per hectare.

The grapes for this Pinotage were selected from a single vineyard of low yielding 16-year-old bush vines perched high on the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains. Organic mulching covered the soil to retain moisture. Fibre within the mulching added structure and nutrients to the soil.

about the harvest: Grapes were harvested in the first two weeks of February 2000. Soaring harvest temperatures for the third season running. Improved vineyard management contributed to healthy, intensely-flavoured fruit and the prospect of some very exciting, fleshy, long-lived reds.

in the cellar : Bunches were destemmed and underwent cold maceration prior to fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation occurred at high temperatures, thereby eliminating metallic and bitter characteristics often found in old-style Pinotage. The wine spent 8 months in 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill French and American oak barrels on the lees and a further 6 months where malolactic fermentation occurred. Light fining with egg whites carried out prior to bottling. Neither filtration nor stabilisation was undertaken to preserve the wineâ€™s inherent complexity.

Maturation: 14 months in french (70%) and American (30%) oak barrels
Cases produced: 3 555 x 6

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