2021 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.89%
Residual Sugar 2.7 g/L
pH 3.43
Total Acidity 6.5 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Syrah62%
Merlot32%
Cabernet Sauvignon4%
Cabernet Franc2%
Drinking Window now but will age beautifully over the next 3-5 years
Region Elgin
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels Tank, Oak Barrel
Oak Aging 17 months
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 225L barriques
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details All components are from grapes grown on the Estate. Almenkerk Wine Estate is a registered estate: all wines are grown, made & bottled on the Estate. Precision viticulture (NDVI photography & satellite imaging) is employed to ensure all grapes of respective site ripen at the same time. Picking decisions are made purely on taste rather than analysis. Only when grapes have achieved the desired ripeness & flavour expression are they picked. The vineyard team does meticulous sorting in the block to ensure only fully ripe, healthy grapes get delivered to the cellar. This blend is a true vineyard blend in the sense that it reflects the reds planted on the Estate according to its hectares. All grapes are submitted to a second rigorous sorting; only clean, healthy grapes are allowed in tank. No sulfites are added to the wine until after malolactic fermentation. Every grape variety is picked according to its respective ripeness and made as a standalone wine. Winemaking practices differ between varieties to a large extent, e.g. Syrah is macerated for up to 6 weeks whereas Merlot is pressed immediately after fermentation. After fermentation, the wines are pressed and fed into small French oak barriques (225L) for secondary (malolactic) fermentation and then left to mature for 17-18 months to allow the tannins to soften & the wine's components to integrate. The final blend is made up after this maturation period. During ageing, the barrels are tasted individually every 3 months to track the evolution of the wine. Blending trials take up to 3 weeks to find the balance and elegance for this medium-bodied cool-climate red.
Tasting Notes
Nose: spicy, olive tapenade, red fruit, perfumed notes
Palate: fruity, voluptuous, freshness, lingering finish, mouthpuckering tannins, fruit purity
Food Pairing red meat dishes, tomato-based sauces, Italian food (carpaccio, ossobuco), chocolate desserts
Critics Ratings Gilbert & Gaillard: Gold Medal 2024 - 86/100
Gilbert & GaillardGold Medal 2024 - 86/100
AMEX Fine Wine Awards92/100
NWCTop 100 - Double Gold
2020 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.69%
Residual Sugar 2.1 g/L
pH 3.47
Total Acidity 5.9 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Syrah, Merlot
Syrah51.6%
Merlot46.2%
Drinking Window now but will age beautifully over the next 3-5 years
Region Elgin
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels Tank, Oak Barrel
Oak Aging 17 months
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 225L barriques
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details All components are from grapes grown on the Estate. Almenkerk Wine Estate is a registered estate: all our wines are grown, made & bottled on the Estate. We employ precision viticulture (NDVI photography & satellite imaging) to ensure all the grapes of respective site ripen at the same time. Picking decisions are made purely on taste rather than analysis. Only when the grapes have achieved the desired ripeness & flavour expression do we pick. Our vineyard team does meticulous sorting in the block to ensure only fully ripe, healthy grapes get delivered to the cellar. This blend is a true vineyard blend in the sense that it reflects the reds we have planted on the Estate according to its hectares. All our grapes are submitted to a second rigorous sorting only the clean, healthy grapes are allowed in tank since we do not add any sulfites to the wine until after malolactic fermentation. Every grape variety is picked according to its respective ripeness and made as a standalone wine. Winemaking practices differ between the varieties to a large extent e.g. Syrah is macerated for up to 6 weeks whereas the Merlot gets pressed immediately after fermentation. After fermentation, the wines are pressed and fed into small French oak barriques (225L) for secondary (malolactic) fermentation and then left to mature for 17-18 months to allow the tannins to soften & the wine's components to integrate. The final blend is made up after this maturation period. During ageing the barrels are tasted individually every 3 months to track the evolution of the wine. Blending trials take up to 3 weeks to find the balance and elegance we are looking for in this medium-bodied cool-climate red.
Tasting Notes
Nose: dark cherries, ripe plum, dried herbs, perfumed notes, meaty, charcuterie
Palate: fruity, voluptuous, freshness, lingering finish, mouthpuckering tannins, fruit purity
Food Pairing red meat dishes, tomato-based sauces, Italian food (carpaccio, ossobuco), chocolate desserts
Critics Ratings Gilbert & Gaillard: Gold Medal 2022 - 87/100
Gilbert & GaillardGold Medal 2022 - 87/100
2019 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.0%
Residual Sugar 1.9 g/L
pH 3.46
Total Acidity 6 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc
Merlot50%
Syrah35%
Cabernet Franc5%
Drinking Window now but will age beautifully over the next 3-5 years
Region Elgin
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels Tank, Oak Barrel
Natural Yeast Yes
Maceration 4 days
Oak Aging 17 months
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 225L barriques
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details All components are from grapes grown on the Estate. Precision viticulture (NDVI photography & satellite imaging) is employed to ensure all grapes ripen at the same time. Picking decisions are made purely on taste. Meticulous sorting in the block ensures only fully ripe, healthy grapes are delivered to the cellar. Grapes are submitted to a second rigorous sorting. Grapes are allowed to soak (cold maceration) for 4 days until cooling is turned off and natural fermentation starts. Specific components are inoculated to enhance fruit expression. Fermentation typically takes 7-10 days at temperatures of 20°-25°C. Regular pumpovers & sprayovers ensure full extraction & temperature control. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for 2-3 weeks, during which the secondary (malolactic) fermentation takes place. The wine is then gently pressed and gravity-fed into small French oak barriques (225L) to mature for 17-18 months to allow the tannins to soften & the wine's components to integrate.
Tasting Notes
Nose: dark cherries, red fruit, spicy, perfumed notes, sweet plum
Palate: fruity, voluptuous, freshness, lingering finish, mouthpuckering tannins, fruit purity
Food Pairing red meat dishes, tomato-based sauces, Italian food (carpaccio, ossobuco), chocolate desserts
Critics Ratings Gilbert & Gaillard: Gold Medal 2022
Gilbert & GaillardGold Medal 2022
National Wine ChallengeTop 100 + Double Platinum 2022
Producer Information
Website
Address
Viljoenshoop Rd 50, Elgin, Western Cape, South Africa
Phone
+27 21 848 9844
Email