Wine Composition
Viognier 51%,
Grenache Blanc 49%
Winemakers Comments
Golden - rich, aromatic
and fruity wine, with lingering complexity and well - integrated
tannic structure – a wine to set new standards in white
blending.
Awards
Greg
Landman, ‘City Press’
“….totally delicious, nice and complex with
spicy notes and a dry, creamy finish.”
Michael Fridjhon, ‘Business Day’
“A wine that for me is one of the
most interesting whites produced in this country…rich without being
heavy, delivering savoury rather than plush textures. At 13,5%
alcohol, it is food-friendly and refreshing. Gems like [this] may
not be on the shelves of every wine store – but they will
handsomely repay the effort of tracking them down.”
Kayang Gagiano, ‘Sawubona’
“a complex, aromatic blend … a wine I
fell in love with … delectably intense fruity flavours …
delicious”
Ingrid Motteux, ‘John Platter South African Wine Guide 2008′
“Statement … with intense potpourri aromas. More serious, austere
than sexy, hedonistic 06 but immense concentration and structure,
bone-dry, pithy peach flavours and tangy finish” RATING * * * * ½
[Included among the Guide's 'Wines of the Year' as “highly
recommended”. Also rated "good value".]
Michael Fridjhon, ‘Business Day’
“Remarkably southern French.”
Ludwig Maske, ‘Franschhoek Tatler’
“Perfect food wines”
Angela Lloyd, ‘John Platter South African Wine Guide 2008′
“Sexy,
slightly decadent white blend … intriguing follow-up to maiden 05.
Savoury, oxidative, earth & mineral touches all seamlessly
meshed & quite superb.” RATING * * * * + [Included among the
Guide's 'Wines of the Year' which “show particular potential for
cellaring."]
Tim James, ‘Grape.co.za’
“participates at the modest end of this
[estate's] unusualness, but it is full of character and interest as
well as eminent drinkability … The viognier shows through in the
aromas and on the palate with a peachy perfume that is, happily,
subtle enough to allow other - wild and scrubby - notes to show
too. It’s a powerful, concentrated wine … but also restrained, with
a richness well supported by a fine acidity and good, appropriate
oaking. Already integrated and drinking well, the wine should
benefit from a further year or two in the bottle.” RATING 17
John Maytham, ‘Cape Talk’
“even better than the 2005 … very, very,
very good wine indeed”
Angela Lloyd, ‘John Platter South African Wine Guide - 2007′
“Authoritative, sleek and supple dry white … realises promise …
remarkably refined, intriguing floral, mineral, earthy hints;
fascinating ginger twist. Delicious, with few years potential …
Elegant and classic, as is whole range”
Angela Lloyd, ‘The John Platter Guide’
“rich mouthfeel, satisfying
vinosity, savouriness.”
Michael Fridjhon, ‘The Weekender’
“delicious”
Michael Fridjhon, ‘Business Day’
“remarkably Rhone-like, rich but
not heavy, lowish in alcohol … with peachy viognier whiffs and
subtle hints of anise … infinitely more satisfying than many of the
trophy whites”.
Tim James, ‘grape.co.za’
“an interesting and welcomingly
different-tasting wine. Although it is heavily dominated by
viognier (81%), the grenache blanc remainder works some magic,
toning down the usually very obvious perfume into a subtle apricot,
with attractive boiled sweets overtones. The six months it spent in
new oak barrels no doubt plays a role here (though there’s no
obvious oakiness), as it does in building the roundness and
richness of the wine in the mouth, where a pleasing earthiness also
comes into play. It’s dry, with a lovely fresh acidity helping to
make it a good food wine.” RATING 16.5
Neil Pendock, ‘Sunday Times’
“fresh flavours of peach and
honey”.
Allan Mullins, ‘Taste’
“a bold, concentrated mouthful with dried
apricot, white peach flavours and a light toastiness … it will age
superbly”.
‘Wine’
RATING * * * *
Ludwig Maske, ‘Sunday Times’
“stunning”
David Biggs, ‘Cape Argus’
“one of the most exciting white wines I
have tasted in the Cape … this stunner is an unusual blend … should
find a ready market”
John Maytham, ‘Cape Talk’
“stunning; one of the most interesting
wines of 2005″
Greg Landman, ‘SA Country Life’
“another really big one … an
intriguing blend … unusual cultivars … highly aromatic on the nose,
with plenty of fruit and a lingering, barely perceptible suggestion
of sweetness, a mere whisper … which stays in the mouth after
swallowing … The wood does not overpower the fruit, giving it
interesting tannic support instead … subtle complexities - most
beguiling.”
‘Top Billing’
“An intense wine with beautiful perfume and big
flavours”
Mary Jane Harris, ‘Woman & Home’
“Exceptional blend … rich and
interesting. The intense fruit adapts easily to a range of
assertive flavours.”
‘Icon’
“A golden-white blend with intense fruit, layers of
complexity and a deliciously lingering finish.”
Myrna Robins, ‘Weekend Argus’
“a complex, different and unusual
white, opulent viognier tempered by grenache blanc”.
Graham Howe, ‘House & Leisure’
“treat[s] a jaded palate …
intensely flavoured.”.
Cathy Marston, ‘Nosing Around’ “Even more delighted when I tasted
it - ripe apricots and peaches tempered with a herbal edge”.
Diana Proctor, ‘Natal Mercury’
“fragrant … wonderful peachy hints
with a touch of anise, cut through with an acidity that makes it a
really food-friendly wine”
Sonja Burger, ‘Farmers Weekly’
“One of the best white wines I’ve
tasted this year … sure to impress your connoisseur friends.”
‘Wynbouweekblad’
“‘n heerlike gehoute wit versnit”
Mary Jane Harris, ‘Woman & Home’
“exceptional … rich and
interesting … rich fruit adapts easily to a range of assertive
flavours”
‘Icon’
“a golden white-wine blend with intense fruit, layers of
complexity and a deliciously lingering finish”
Jacqui Latimer, ‘Good Taste’
“graceful floral
intrigue”
Technical
Analysis
Alcohol
Percentage
13% vol
Total
Acidity
6.2 g/l
Ph
3.18
Residual
Sugar
4.6 g/l
Vineyards/Vintage
The Grenache Blanc
grapes were desiccated on the vine according to an ancient Greek
practice to concentrate color and flavors.
Cellar
Techniques
The fully ripe grapes were then harvested and
crushed in the cellar where they were given 24 hours’ skin contact
at 5° C. The Viognier was sourced from six different sites to
achieve a complex flavour spectrum. Both grape varieties were
fermented and matured separately in new French oak barrels for
a
slow fermentation and extended lees maturation, and were blended
prior to bottling.
Eight months in French oak barrels.
Winemaker
Hilko
hegewisch
Winery
Franschhoek
Solms-Delta is so
much more than a wine estate. A trust was established that benefits
the estate’s historically disadvantaged residents and employees.
Then they were given an equal (one third) equity stake in the
winery. From the profits, the farm residents enjoy new, refurbished
and comfortable homes, and social programs that have greatly
improved their health, education and general quality of
life.
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