2010 Shiraz

Tasting Note:

This fresh, juicy Shiraz flaunts lively flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate, with hints of white pepper, licorice and spice.

Grapes:

96% Shiraz, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot Grapes were sourced from select vineyard sites in Robertson, Paarl, Swartland and Stellenbosch, with soils of predominantly calcareous clay and Malmesbury shale.

What to eat with:

It makes a perfect partner for bacon cheeseburgers, grilled sausages, hearty pasta dishes, and lamb chops.

Alcohol:	14%
Acidity:	5.56g/l
pH:	3.63

The grapes were hand harvested and destemmed, then fermented on the skins in closed stainless steel tanks, with pumpovers of one hour performed twice daily. The wine was pressed after six days, then aged for five months in a combination of French and American oak.

The challenging 2010 vintage was characterized by very low yields (due to heavy rains and strong winds early in the growing season) but high quality. It was a very short harvest for reds, with grapes being picked over half the normal harvest period. The vintage produced elegant yet concentrated wines.

• 2011  International Wine  
  
  Silver