Vineyard Blocks

1 block 20 year old vines on 3 wire trellis ( opgeleide bosstok ) - yield 7 tons / hectare - picked early March 2nd block 10 year old vines on 3 wire trellis ( canopy fairly well managed, no leaf removal ) - yield 9 tons / hectare - picked late February 3rd block 15% Chardonnay

 

Vintage Conditions

Harvest date:  26/2/96 – 5/3/96 @ 22.2 – 24.5° balling.

 

Production

Picking only early morning ( before 9.00am ), crushed lightly and allowed approx. 4 hours skin contact. Single pressing in small traditional basket press into settling tank for 1 -2 days - S0 2 added. Transferred to 225 l barrels - mostly 3rd fill, 15% new French oak. Barrel fermentation with natural yeasts only - max. temp. reached 24 degrees. Lees stirred every 2nd week reducing to about once a month. Maturation in the barrel 7 months.  Bentonite and isinglass fining prior to bottling unfiltered 27 / 9 /96.

Production - 150 cases.

 

Tasting Notes

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Analysis

Alc. 13,7              TA 7,5             pH  3,34              VA 0,41              sug. 2,0              SO2  35 & 100