Steenberg - 'Five Lives' Red Blend, Coastal Region - 2020 (750ml)

Wine Composition

62% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon & 16% Malbec

Winemakers Comments

Steenberg Five Lives expresses an intense dark red hue with a lighter, garnet red on the rim. The nose displays prominently blackcurrant cassis and notes of earth, basil and plum. It is a medium to full-bodied wine, showing a silky texture and depth, as well as an elegant tannin structure. Savory sundried tomato pesto, tobacco spice, cherry and cinnamon notes linger on the palate long after the last sip. The Merlot forms the backbone of this wine with clean, bright fruit which adds subtle freshness. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings a formal, earnest profile to the blend. This wine is showing beautifully now and will reward cellaring for up to 5 years. 

Technical Analysis

Alcohol Percentage

14.77%

TA

5.4 g/l

pH

3.64

RS

2.2 g/l

Cellar Techniques

The two varietal portions for Steenberg Five Lives were vinified in stainless steel tanks. Prior to fermentation, 10-15% of the juice was drawn off the skins to aid body and fullness. Both varietals were fermented separately, on

the skins, for 14 days. Pump overs were done twice per day to extract color and tannin. After fermentation they were separately racked into small French oak barrels Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels and the wine was aged for 20 months. The wine was then blended and a light fining was done before bottling.

Winemaker

Name - Elunda Basson

Winery

Steenberg holds the distinction of being the oldest farm in the picturesque Constantia Valley, which is generally considered to be South Africa’s premier wine growing region. With its cool, sea-facing slopes and majestic granite ridges, this vineyard has developed a worldwide reputation for producing excellent Cape wines. The estate boasts a state of the art modern winery, producing some of the country’s finest award winning wines.