Wine Composition
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Winemakers Comments
Deep, dark red colour. Intense rich, ripe cassis and blackberry nose with lovely spicy, lead pencil and creamy fynbos aromas. Rich, ripe fruit on the palate with layers of spice and creamy fynbos. Great intensity with prominent fine tannins that carry the wine to a long finish.
Awards
Wine Spectator | 92 points
Vinous Antonio Galloni | 91 points
John Platter | 4.5 stars
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
15.01%
TA
5.7 g/l
pH
3.86
RS
2.4 g/l
Vineyards/Vintage
We had a late 2010 winter with a little below average rainfall, but cold enough in May to ensure even bud-break in spring. The growing season was cool with some regular rainfall, which made up for the drier winter. Flowering was good and although December was very windy (most in 42 years), we had no damage and a normal healthy crop of very good quality.
The harvest period was very hot and dry, but we managed to get all the grapes to the cellar in the cool mornings at optimum ripeness.
Cellar Techniques
100% destemming and crushing by hand directly into 2-ton open top fermentation tanks. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ 30ºC with the cap of skins punched down 2 – 3 times a day for 15 days. Wine drained directly to barrels, together with single pressing from traditional basket press for malolactic fermentation. 40% new French oak was used from high-quality coopers. Time in barrels 23 months with several rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation. Bottled unfiltered by hand on the property.
Winemaker
Name - David Trafford
Winery
De Trafford Winery is situated on the beautiful Mont Fleur farm set at the top of a dramatic valley above Stellenbosch, 380m up between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains, right at the end of the Blaauwklip road, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West.
The history of wine growing on this mountain farm started with the purchase of the property in 1976 by the Trafford family as inaccessible grazing land. Many of the high altitude slopes were deemed suitable for high-quality red grape varieties. Unfortunately, due to the absurd quota restrictions, planting a commercial vineyard had to wait 18 years. In 1983 a small vineyard was established to produce experimental wines – consumed by family and friends! These were our learning curve years ( 1984 – 1991 ), which included lots of help and advice from local winemakers and working experience in France, particularly in the Bordeaux area.
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