Product Description
Varieties
Shiraz : 58%
Cabernet Sauvignon : 32%
Petit Verdot : 10%
The Vineyard
Potential has been identified in magnificent Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignonvines from the Somerset West regionwhich are all 30 years old or older. At this age, the vines have an advanced root system which provides the fruit with more nutrients from deeper soil layers and contributes to vintage stability, producing wines of more constantly exceptional quality.
The Harvest
Good rainfall in the winter and spring of 2013 resulted in excellent water reserves in the soil that facilitated substantial vine growth, necessitating vigilant vineyard maintenance in the form of leaf and shoot plugging. The Cape Doctor, the prevailing South Easterly wind, swept through most of the Western Cape during late spring and early summer, keeping the vineyard conditions dry by lowering the humidity and negating any fungal disease associated with the higher water reserves. A picking season without the customary heat waves resulted in a cooler ripening period than past vintages, and even though punctuated by a few short rain showers, produced an exceptionally positive vintage with concentrated fruit.
The Cellar
Selected, handpicked, individually vinified and matured for 16 months in 100% new, tight grain French oak barrels before blending, the wine consists of 58% Shiraz, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. After blending, it was returned to the same new barrels and nurtured for a further 6 months. At a total of 22 months of maturation, this wine is the ultimate expression of longevity and potential.
Residual Sugar: 2.2 g/l
pH: 3.5
Total Acidity: 6.1 g/l
Alcohol: 14%
Aging Potential
A true legacy wine, produced in limited quantities to last for over 20 years, each individual bottle is numbered and supports the signature of Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, in remembrance of the responsibility bestowed upon his children by his legacy. As it matures, the wine will become increasingly velvety, as the tannins soften and integrate, the fruit may become slightly richer but the luscious elegance and nuances of spice will be retained.
Awards
2015
Platter’s Guide 2019 4 ½ Stars
