Wine Composition
40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
Winemakers Comments
Red fruit, pencil lead and leather (with an undercurrent of tobacco leaf) dominate the nose. This wine plays beautifully on the palate with red fruit and black pepper - creamy and balanced with a lingering finish.
Awards
John Platter | 4 stars
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
13.57%
TA
5.6 g/l
pH
3.55
RS
2.7 g/l
Cellar Techniques
The different varietals are vinified separately because of the different locations of vineyards on Vriesenhof farm. Fermentation on the skins is normally 6-8 days. The varietals are kept separate for the 1st 12 months in older French oak barrels before blending.
Winemaker
Name: Nicky Claasens
Winery
The first Coetzee arrived in Table Bay in 1679. They acquired their first land in Stellenbosch in 1682 (today known as Coetzenburg) with some more land acquired later in the Jonkershoek Valley. They left Stellenbosch to explore the rugged West Coast at the end of the 1680's. Jan Coetzee returned to Stellenbosch in 1963 to pursue his studies in viticulture at the Stellenbosch University.
A very important element of wine is the historical agricultural background. If the grapes feel at home in the land, they can tell the story that the land was written with a clear voice. In the 16th century Olivier des Sevres said, "Terroir is an alliance of soil and a complex network of plants and light."
This was Jan's belief when he bought Vriesenhof in December 1980. Situated at the foothills of the Stellenbosch Mountain, where the ever-changing climatic effect of the Atlantic Ocean is evident throughout the year.
Jan's first wine was produced under the majestic oak trees in 1981. When he arrived on Vriesenhof, it was planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut and Pinotage. In 1983, Jan started planting Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. His innovation continued in the mid-1990's when he added Pinot Noir and in 2009 when he planted Grenache vineyards.
During 1987, close friends bought the neighbouring farm, Talana Hill. A few years later, the two farms were joined to form the estate which is now known as Vriesenhof Vineyards.
Since 2006, the majority of the farm has been replanted, except for a small vineyard of old bush vine Pinotage at the top of the hill, as you enter the estate. These vineyards represent the wines of the new generation, who follow the philosophy that "The winemaker is a humble servant of nature. His role is to give nature the opportunity to produce the best possible wine." Wine is not only the memory of terroir, but also the expression of place. However it changes from vintage to vintage - an ever evolving memory adding not only to the history of place, but also to the relationship between nature and man. Every vintage is a true reflection of the triumphs and struggles of each growing season, but also the excitement of what that vintage can bring.
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