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The third vintage to be released under the entirely new category
"Wine from naturally dried grapes", recently formed
by the Wine and Spirit Board specifically to accommodate this
wine and others to follow.
VINEYARD BLOCKS
1 block ( Keerweder ) 27 year
old vines on a 3 wire trellis on neighbouring cool high altitude
SW slope. Deep red Hutton soil with good moisture retention.
Unirrigated. Yield 7 tons / hectare.
2 blocks ( Post House ) 13 &
15 year old vines on a 4 wire trellis with moveable foliage
wires. Lower slopes of the Helderberg, 8 km from the cooling
influence of the sea. Gravelly Hutton soil. Yield 5 &
10 tons / hectare. Lightly irrigated to releave drought and
heat stress.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
Another ideal vintage for this style of wine. The warm, dry
conditions produced a small crop of excellent quality. These
conditions continued during the drying process producing very
sweet, concentrated grapes.
Harvest date: 7 / 2 / 99 - 29 / 2 / 99 @ 22 - 23.5° balling
PRODUCTION
The grapes were picked at optimum ripeness ( approx. 25 deg.
balling ) and laid out on drying racks in 80% shade for 3
weeks. This allows the grapes to concentrate sugars, acids
and flavours, before reharvesting in the cool mornings.
Matured for one year using 3 French and 2 American new 225
l oak barrels.
Racked while in barrel to remove heavy sediment and lightly
bentonite fined before bottling unfiltered. Bottling date
: 18 / 4 / 00
TASTING NOTES
Attractive deep yellow colour. Intense honey, apricot, nuts
and citrus nose.
The palate is sweet and concentrated with just enough acidity
and oak tannins to compliment and deliver a long, lingering
finish.
This wine is a dessert all on its own - a real treat after
the meal. Delicious with biscotti and various nuts. Compliments
slightly tart fruit desserts and good pate's beautifully.
ANALYSIS
Alc.13.58 Sug. 175.0 TA 6.8
pH 3.98 VA 1.53 SO2 26/219
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