Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.0%
Residual Sugar 2.8 g/L
pH 3.4
Total Acidity 5.6 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Syrah, Viognier
Syrah94%
Viognier6%
Region Elim
Vineyard Yield 2.3 hL/ha
Grape Clone SH 22
Vine Age 16 years
Fermentation Vessels Stainless Steel Tank
Maceration 10 days
Oak Aging 20 months
Oak Details 35% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak35%
Second Fill Oak32%
Third Fill Oak33%
Oak Types French
Production Details The growing season for the 2020 harvest started with a normal cold winter in 2019, followed by a very dry spring and less wind than normal. Conditions were good until a late cold front hit on October 28, 2019, bringing a hailstorm with stones the size of Shiraz berries, driven by a gale force Southwest wind, which ripped leaves and shoots. Within 10 minutes, the damage was done, reducing the potential crop by half. In mid-January 2020, a Black South Easter tormented the area for 10 consecutive days, accompanied by 115mm of rain and very high humidity. This caused berry burst on early cultivars like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Red cultivars were in early stages of veraison and not as badly affected. By February 4, harvest was in full swing, and despite worries, grapes came into the cellar with no sour rot and only a small percentage of botrytis. The average temperature for February was 21.3° Celsius, which is 0.8°C warmer than the average for the last 16 years. Despite the challenging conditions, the resulting low yield of 2.3 tons per hectare harvested in February and March made amazing wines. Due to the challenging vintage, the normal procedure of cold soaking prior to fermentation was not followed. Whole berries were inoculated immediately after destemming to control unwanted wild yeast. Fermentation was done in stainless steel tanks with daily pump overs. Skin contact was less than normal, lasting only 10 days prior to pressing. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 20 months, with 35% new and the rest 2nd and 3rd fill.
Tasting Notes
Nose: cherry, lavender, black pepper, candy cola, chalky mineral
Palate: cool fine tannins, savoury salty finish
Individual Vintages
Producer Information
Website
Address
Die Damme Road, Elim, Cape Agulhas, South Africa
Phone
+27 (0) 28 482 1902
Email
Owner
Group of wine lovers (founded 2001)
Cellarmaster
Conrad Vlok