** THIS WINE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DISCOUNTS
Wine Composition
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 14% Shiraz & 3% Cabernet Franc
Winemakers Comments
Medium deep red colour. Complex range of aromas from smoky blackberry, fruitcake, cinnamon, cigarbox, and spice. No particular varietal character standing out. Already well knit firm structure with dense fine tannins and rich, complex fruit carrying through from beginning to end. A firm, long finish.
Awards
Wine Spectator | 91 points
Tim Atkin | 95 points (2016)
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
14.96%
TA
5.1 g/l
pH
3.63
RS
2.3 g/l
Vineyards/Vintage
Typical cold, wet winter followed by a normal growing season with enough rain and warm weather to produce good, balanced growth. A hot, dry ripening period without excessive stress, producing concentrated wines with great structure. One of the best vintages of the decade for the patient. A massive fire prior to harvest meant a very stressful start to the harvest, but also relief that we were spared any real damage period produced concentrated grapes with lots of flavour and sugar.
Cellar Techniques
Handpicking into 20 kg lugboxes. 100% destemming and gentle crushing directly into open top fermenters. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. temp. 29°C – 31°C. Time on skins 12 – 15 days, with cap of skins punched down (pigeage) 1 – 4 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from traditional basket press. Mostly new French oak used. Time in barrel 20 months, which included several rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation. This wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered, 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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