2023 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Seriously Old Dirt 2023 flaunts a deep ruby colour. This predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blend emanates a richness of black mulberry, muddled baked cherry and plum, and as the wine lingers in the glass it opens to subtle spice aromas of clove and star anise alongside a graphite undertone and friendly floral aromas. Soft silky tannins of the wine allow it to have a smooth entry on the palate and fills the mid-palate with the plushness of the fruit sweetness, feeling the concentration of the wine as well as balance between weight and acidity. The concentration and depth of this wine, despite being a medium-bodied wine, will grant you the pleasure of immediate enjoyment or delayed delight upon aging.
2022 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Deep ruby colour. Delicate floral notes meet expressive blackcurrant, black plum, cherry and raspberry. Cinnamon stick and clove lend complexity. The palate is plush and silky with dark chocolate and black fruit, finishing long with savoury spice. Satin-like tannins and fresh acidity add vitality and promise 5-10 years of pleasure.
2021 Technical Specifications
Grape Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon88%
Malbec8%
Merlot2%
Cabernet Franc2%
Region Paarl
Harvest Dates Harvest began in the second week of February 2021.
Oak Aging 18 months
Oak Types French
Production Details Harvest timing was roughly two weeks later on average because of an unusually cold, wet spring that delayed bud-break. Ample rains continued into early summer, leading to larger vine canopies and requiring additional work to manage vigorous growth. Flowering was largely even, with good fruit-set, and the season avoided the usual February and March heatwaves. Berries showed vibrant freshness and bold tannin structure. The wine matured for eighteen months in French oak, and the vintage shows sophistication, poise, and cellaring potential.
2020 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Youthful deep ruby colour with rich black raspberry, plum and blackcurrant aromas. Star anise, nutmeg and fragrant tobacco-leaf bring complexity. The palate is smooth and expansive, plush with fruit flavours and a nuanced spicy finish. Satin-textured tannins and youthful energy define this vintage.
2019 Technical Specifications
Grape Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon86%
Malbec6%
Merlot5%
Cabernet Franc3%
Region Paarl
Oak Aging 18 months
Oak Types French
Production Details A tale of two seasons. In the shadow of the persistent drought condition, the preceding winter to harvest 2019 saw the drought break with good rainfall, forming the basis for a good vintage to follow. Fluctuating weather conditions saw an uneven budbreak, which required in-bunch sorting to maintain quality. Weather conditions improved at the onset of summer. Warmer weather in November was conducive to vineyard growth. A testament to the resilience of the winegrowing team, the wines of this vintage show freshness, concentration and elegance. Matured for eighteen months in older French oak barrique. Three hundred and thirty barrels were produced.
2018 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Bright garnet-red with black cherry and sour plum on the nose. Complex layers of flinty minerality, blonde tobacco and dark chocolate. The palate offers freshness and saline energy with ripe, fine tannins and focus. Bold and structured, with sumptuous and effortless elegance.
2017 Technical Specifications
Grape Varieties Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Malbec37%
Merlot36%
Cabernet Sauvignon26%
Cabernet Franc1%
Region Paarl
Harvest Dates Harvest commenced on February 6 and concluded on March 1, 2017.
Oak Aging 21 months
Oak Types French
Production Details An abundant crop of sterling quality. Yields rose by fifty-seven percent despite the fourth year in a sequence of below-average rainfall for the Western Cape Province. Welcome post-harvest rains in the preceding year before leaf fall, coupled with well-timed nutrient applications, allowed the vines to build reserves before winter dormancy. Winter rains in 2016 approached normal levels but fell below average in late winter to spring. Bud-break in spring was even, with rapid shoot growth that ceased well before bloom, allowing excellent fruit-set. Weather leading up to harvest was warm and fair, creating ideal ripening conditions. At blending, the varietal wines showed classical elegance rather than power. Matured for twenty-one months in older French oak barriques. Eighty-nine barrels were produced.
2016 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Moderately deep ruby-red colour. Fresh, fruit-forward nose with red cherry, plum and blueberry, lifted by peppery spice. Dried herbs and vanilla pod, white chocolate and cinnamon round out the aromatic profile. On the palate, juicy red fruits and a luscious mouthfeel are supported by fine tannins and a long finish. Elegant, lean and cellar-worthy.
2015 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Displays a vibrant, plummy colour with notes of boysenberry, candied strawberry and bright cherry. Accents of warm vanilla, baking spices and milk chocolate give way to dried flowers and a savoury finish. The palate is generous, with red fruit, a luscious mouthfeel and rounded tannins. Balanced and flavoursome, this is the kind of wine that invites just another sip.
2014 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details Vivid, dark red fruit leads this wine, with aromas that are immediate, fresh, bright and pure. Notes of freshly picked dark cherries and black raspberries are supported by undertones of lightly perfumed citrus flowers. The finish is firm and long, with fine tannins underlying the structure. Now softened with bottle age, it offers well-integrated, velvet-textured tannins and a layered, lingering finish.
2013 Technical Specifications
Region Paarl
Production Details A dense wine that is rich and full-bodied with complex aromas of black currant, black cherries, balsamic and fruitcake, lifted with warm aromas of nutmeg and all spice. The palate is soft on entry, a luscious mouth feel with a firm acidity that adds to the jubilant expression of this wine. Enjoy now. Decanting recommended.
Producer Information
Website
Address
Unit 7C, Distillery Road, Bosman's Crossing, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Phone
+27 (0)21 886 4083
Email
Owner
The Ratcliffe Family
Cellarmaster
Chris de Vries