2015 Shiraz SA Challenge - Top 12 Winner     2014 Vitis Vinifera Awards - Gold Medal     2008 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year     2007 SA Young Wine Show - Gold Medal

In the Vineyard

This was the first harvest from a 3 year old Shiraz block on La Vigne Estate, SH9 clone on R99 and USVIT 8-7 rootstocks in a north-west facing slope with red, rocky and well drained soil. The vines are on a 5 wire vertical trellis system with moveable foliage wires.
Gentle irrigation just before flowering and regular sampling to insure that the grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness. Early morning harvesting was done in 2 batches, at 24.5 and 25.4º Balling respectively.
Handpicked into 20 kg lug boxes. Yield; 3,5 ton per Ha.

In the Cellar

Gentle crushing into open fermenters. Different yeast strains were used.. 30% new French oak and 10% new American oak from various cooperages. Wine matured in barrels for 16 months to classical music and with rackings every six months. Wine bottled by hand, unfiltered and unfined on the 20th of August 2008.

Tasting Notes

Some bottles from this vintage were left in our cellar to mature further at 14ºC. Time has done it well and it shows a beautiful Shiraz character with appealing berry flavors and a well structured and smooth finish. Would show it's full potential by being enjoyed in a Shiraz glass, at a serving temperature of 18ºC and accompanied by classical music.

Analysis

Alc; 14.5% RS; 2,9g/l VA: 0.59g/l pH; 3.54 TA; 6.0g/l