Wine Composition
100% Chenin Blanc
Winemakers Comments
Attractive light gold color. Intense honey, apricot, nuts and spices on the nose. The palate is sweet and concentrated with just enough acidity and oak tannins to compliment and deliver a long, lingering finish. Delicious with hard cheese, pate’, biscotti, lemon and orange rind cake, various nuts and slightly tart fruit desserts. Or a dessert all on its own - a real treat after the meal!
Awards
Tim Atkin | 95 points
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
11.76%
Total Acidity
5.8 g/l
pH
3.88
Residual Sugar
200 g/l
Vineyards/Vintage
Another excellent vintage to follow 2017 after 2 years of drought. Winter started a bit late but was cold enough to get dormancy off to a good start. Bud break started late as winter dragged on into September. The early growing season was windy with cold and wet periods leading to uneven flowering and berry set resulting in lower yields. The rest of the growing season was dry and hot followed by much cooler temperatures in February with especially cool nights. Disease pressure was low and with the late start to harvest, we had healthy grapes with small bunches and small berries. Harvest a little later than usual and the dry harvest conditions are conducive to the natural drying process.
Cellar Techniques
The grapes were picked at optimum ripeness and laid out on drying racks in 70% shade for about 3 weeks. This allows the grapes to concentrate sugars, acids and flavors, before re-harvesting in the cool mornings. Fermented with natural yeasts and matured for 19 months using 50% new 225L French oak barrels. Racked while in barrel to remove heavy sediment.
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.
This wine is not eligible for further discounts.
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