al Pinotage 2006
“Thank goodness! Another good weather year, plus available irrigation and the introduction of “coccidoxenoides perminutes” for mealy bug control saw the vineyards returning to health. Bernhard auctioned his first CWG wines. The Deli and Event facility was built below the cellar and Cassia was put on the planning board. Henriette joined us on the marketing side. Nitida joined the World Wide Web. The Durbanville Water Pipeline was completed. On the wine side, we bought our own labelling line, our experimental white blend went back in to wood after blending and we picked a tiny crop off the new Cabernet block. Woolworths released the first Nitida Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release.”
Tasting Notes
Voluptuous but classy, layers of violets make way for spice, and lingering black cherries with ripe plums and an impression of herbs.
Winemaker Comments
This was the only cultivar to behave according to the text book this year. Picked at phenolic ripeness (visually brown pips and stems) at a balling of 25.5 to give full bodied wine with big mouth feel. Pre-fermentation cold-soak for 3 days gives nuttiness and good colour. 100% open fermenter using new pneumatic punch-through system every 4 hours. Fermentation at 25-30 degrees to enhance flavours and colour. Pressed just before dry and finished fermentation in tank. Moved to 2nd and 3rd fill French barrels for malolactic fermentation.
