Product Description
Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
Varieties
100% Pinotage
The Vineyard
AGE OF VINES – 65 years
IRRIGATION None – dry land vineyards
SOIL TYPE – Decomposed Granite and Hutton
YIELD – 2.8 tons per hectare
The Harvest
Extremely warm and dry, with below average rainfall and cold units during the preceding winter. During ripening the night time temperatures were cooler than normal, resulting in good acid and flavour development. A challenging vintage producing sound, concentrated wines that should peak earlier.
The Cellar
Fermentation took place in open top concrete fermenters. The floating skins were punched down by hand, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3.5 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured for 18 months in 100% new 225L French Nevers oak barrels.
ALC 14.61%
RS 2.5 g/l
TA 5.1 g/l
pH 3.69
FREE SO2 41 mg/l
TOTAL SO2 85 mg/l
VA 0.64 g/l
WINEMAKER Abrie Beeslaar
PRODUCTION VOLUME 1150 cases (6 x 750ml)
Aging Potential
15 to 20 years from vintage
Awards
Christian Eedes: 92 points
Tim Atkin MW: 96 points
Platter’s Guide: 4.5*
Neal Martin: 94 points
