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This special release Shiraz was picked, vinified and bottled
by De Trafford assistant winemaker Hendry Hess and neighbouring
Keermont Vineyards’ winegrower Alex Starey. Vinification
was carried out as gently and minimalistically as possible
in order to preserve the subtle flavours of the fruit from
Pru Crawley’s organically managed “Heap of Stones”
vineyard.
VINEYARD BLOCKS
100 % from Pru Crawley’s Bellevlei vineyard on the
Blaauwklip Valley floor. Organically managed 6 year old vines
on 5 wire vertical trellis, clone SH9 on 101.14 rootstock.
Soil: a raised alluvial terrace – a combination of pudding
stones and larger river boulders.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The spring was cool and late with a good, even budburst.
We had a few very hot days in early January but generally
the ripening season was relatively cool and dry and nearly
2 weeks later than usual.
Harvest date : 18 / 3 / 04 @ 23.4° Balling.
PRODUCTION
Handpicking into 20 kg lugboxes. Destemming and gentle crushing
directly into a small 700 kg ton open top fermentation tank.
Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. 28°C with
the cap of skins punched down manually 2 - 4 times a day for
an average of 12 days. Wine drained directly to barrels together
with single pressing from traditional basket press.
All our red wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in the
barrel. This helps to integrate the new oak component and
fix colour and flavour compounds. 25% new French oak was used,
rest second and third fill.
Time in barrel 19 months with only a single racking.
This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered by hand.
Bottling date : 22 / 11 / 2005.
Production : 42 x 12 x 750ml
TASTING NOTES
Deep stoney red colour. Aromatic nose with ripe berries accompanied
by herb and toasted oak notes. Tight, well structured palate
(typical of wines from rocky vineyards) with dark fruit flavours.
Clean finish. Decant to drink now or best between 2007 and
2014. Best served with aromatic meat dishes.
ANALYSIS
Alc. 14.47 SG. 1.5 TA 5.7 pH
3.72 VA 0.60 SO2 30 & 84 |
