Description

Winemaker: Louis van der Riet
Appellation: Calitzdorp
Grape varietal: 71% Touriga Nacional, 23% Tinta Roriz, 6% Tinta Barocca

Vineyards
Portuguese varietals where planted in Calitzdorp during the late 1970’s with Tinta Barocca being the first to find its way to the Klein Karoo.  Now Calitzdorp is known as South Africa’s Port Capital with these varietals leading the way. Vines are trellised and micro irrigated.

Winemaking
Selected bunches are handpicked mid to late February from row selected vines in specific blocks at 26o Balling.  Bunches are destemmed, crushed and rapidly cooled in a lagar.  Grapes are left to spontaneously start fermenting after which at the desired sugar the fermentation is stopped by adding alcohol to the must.  Skins are then pressed and the wine is matured in big vats for 20 months.

Winemaker’s comments
Colour: Dark black colour with plum red rim.
Bouquet: Very aromatic nose of ripe red berries and cherries, violets and dark chocolate.
Taste: A big wine full of ripe dark fruit notes of plum, mulberry and black currents. Well-rounded with smooth dark chocolate undertones and firm tannins results in n wine that would mature well over 30 years.
Food pairing: Enjoy on its own or with some well matured cheese

Chemical analysis
Alcohol: 19.0 %
pH: 3.8
TA: 5.7 g/l
RS: 94.0 g/l
Extract: 128.0 g/l

Awards
2023 Platter’s Wine Guide – 4.5 stars
NWC Top 100 Grand Cru National Champion – Best in Class
Gold – Veritas 2023
2022 SA Champion Port-style Wine – SA Young Wine Show
2022 Tim Atkin Report – 95 points