** THIS WINE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DISCOUNTS
Wine Composition
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Syrah
Winemakers Comments
Medium deep red color. Rich complex fruitcake nose. Soft, but substantial palate with quite polished tannins. Fruitcake, blackcurrant, tomato paste & herbal (fynbos) flavors carry through to a long finish. Delicious with most red meat dishes. Butterfly leg of lamb on the braai with wild rosemary a personal favorite. Drink 2016 to 2025.
Awards
Wine Spectator | 92 points (2011)
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
14.85%
TA
5.3 g/l
pH
3.6
RS
1.4 g/l
Vineyards/Vintage
Winter 2011 was colder than usual, but with average rainfall resulting in excellent, even bud-break. We had good growth in spring, but poor weather (cold and rain) over the flowering period resulting in uneven flowering and berry set. We paid extra attention to green harvesting to help make up for this. Disease pressure was managed with well-timed sprays and open, small canopies. January was exceptionally hot, which really jolted the vines into ripeness. The ripening period of February and March was much cooler than usual and close to perfect with not much rain. After a rocky start, we’re extremely satisfied with the 2012 vintage.
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. 35% 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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