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MONT FLEUR VINEYARD
The best barrels of Cabernet Franc; Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
were chosen from wines produced from our magnificent vineyard
site high up on the eastern slopes of the Helderberg mountain.
The soil is a deep red decomposed granite - Hutton type. The
vines are close planted ( 5000 to 7500 vines / hect.)
Cabernet Franc 34%
6 yr old vines on 5 wire vertical trellis. Clone CF1 on 101-14
rootstock.
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%
6 yr old vines on 5 wire vertical trellis. Clones CS337; CS359;
CS27: CS46A; CS1A; CS163 all on 101-14 rootstock.
Merlot 33%
6 yr old vines on 5 wire vertical trellis. Clone MO181 on
R99 rootstock
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
A hot,dry summer. The harvest was early with very ripe, healthy
grapes producing big wines
with high alcohols.
Harvest date : 19 / 2 / 00 - 28 / 2 / 00
PRODUCTION
Handpicking into 20 kg lugboxes. 100% destemming and gentle
crushing directly into open top fermenters. Spontaneous natural
yeast fermentation @ max. temp. 31°C - 33°C. Time
on skins
9 - 11 days, with cap of skins punched down (pigeage) 1 -
4 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with
single pressing from traditional basket press.
All our red wine undergo malolactic fermentation in the barrel.
This helps to integrate the new oak and fix colour and flavour
compounds. Mostly new French oak used. Time in barrel 19 months,
which included several rackings to gradually clarify the wine
and assist maturation.
This wine was bottled by hand, unfined or unfiltered, on the
property. Bottling date : 4 / 10 / 01.
Production : 148 x 6 bottle cases
TASTING NOTES
The perfectly ripe fruit shows in the deep colour and intense,
complex nose. Rich, opulent with a long soft tannin finish.
Long finish. Probably best between 2004 and 2014. Ideal with
rich, roasted or grilled red meat dishes.
ANALYSIS
Alc. 15.55 SG. 2.2 TA 5.1
pH 3.47 VA 0.68 SO2 17 & 54
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