Eikeboom Pinotage Western Cape 2014
| Country: | South Africa |
| Region: | Hermon |
| Grape Type: | Pinotage |
| Winery: | Eikeboom Winery |
Pinotage is a true South African grape variety, Our signature grape smilar to the Blue Crane being our national bird. Indwe Pinotage grapes are meticulously sourced from our grape producers along the Coastal region of the Western Cape ensuring complexity, depth and purity of fruit. The wine is layered with sweet cherry notes, and subtle hints of mocha and vanilla flavors.
Riebeek Cape Rose is made from 100% Pinotage.
Abundant and distinctive flavors of fresh strawberries and ripe cherries with a crisp dryness on the palate will be charming at many occasion.
Harvested at an average of 24 degrees balling.
100% Pinotage grapes were harvested early in the morning and left on the skins until enough color and flavor were extracted. The juice was settled overnight and then inoculated with selected yeast. Cold fermentation ensured capturing of all the natural fruit flavors.
Enjoy well-chilled with lighter meals like pasta, salmon, and salads, or as a glass on its own with good friends.
Prepared with Tempranillo grapes (100%), this wine has a very bright, intense maraschino cherry colour that fades to a Cardinal red rim.
It has a very marked aroma with a good balance of fruit and wood, where tones of vanilla intermingle with well-ripened fruit, black berries and wild fruits. There are also noticeable hints of leather and liquorice, resulting from the mingling of the French oak and the aromas inherent in this variety of grape.
In the mouth, the wine has a smooth texture but fills the palate with balanced flavours, including fine tannins, which help extend the life of the wine. The finish and aftertaste are both long and elegant.
Vineyard:
Pago de los Capellanes, Pedrosa de Duero.
Variety composition:
100% Tempranillo.
Type of soil:
Clayey and chalky.
Aging:
12 months in barrel and remainder on rack.
Type of oak:
100% French oak, medium toast.
Serving:
Uncork and decant one hour before serving at a temperature of 16-18 ºC.
Selected harvest with yields limited to 5000 kg per hectare. The harvest begins in early October, starting with the most mature parcels. Once the grapes are brought into the winery, the tanks are seeded with indigenous yeast (start culture) and the alcoholic fermentation begins. During the barrelling period, which lasts 30 days, the wine is crushed and pumped over daily, all the while controlling the density, temperature and evolution of the yeast. At the end of this fermentation, the tanks are emptied and the wine taken for malolactic fermentation.
The malolactic fermentation begins without the addition of bacteria. The temperature is held steady at 20ºC for period of 22 days, during which we monitor the levels of malic and lactic acids. When the malic acid content is less than 0.1 grams per litre, the wine is decanted to separate the lees and is transferred directly to the barrels without undergoing any type of filtration, clarification or cold treatment.
The wine is aged for twelve months in new and semi-new French oak barrels (no more than three years old). At the end of this period, it is taken to the tank for homogenisation, where it undergoes light filtration through cartridges (open pore) and is then bottled.
Eikeboom Pinotage Western Cape 2014 is made from 100 percent Pinotage
Pinotage is the result of the cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault varieties. Pinotage was created by in South Africa in 1925 by Stellenbock University professor A.I. Perold, during experiments to develop new varieties.
The wine is aged in 50% new barrels and 50% 1 year old barrels.
The grapes for this wine comes from a 4 hectare-parcel (10 acres)
The Eikeboom Pinotage tastes like a cross of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. It has some finesse and some power all together. It is juicy, fruity, new world Rhône style fruit bomb.
The Eikeboom Winery Estate
Jannie is the 5th generation of Louws to have farmed Eikeboom (Eikeboom means “oak tree grove”), the ï¬rst being Jan Nicolaas in 1864. Known originally as de Eikenbomen, the farm has been in existence since the early 19th century, having been recorded by travellers at the time. It is beautifully situated near the small village of Hermon in the heart of the Boland, Western Cape, South Africa. The mountains, the Elandskloofberge, provide a spectacular visual backdrop.
Essentially a wheat farmer, Jannie has long had a passion for viticulture. Today he has resurrected the art of wine making as practised by his grandfather, Ou Jan ‘Ligtewyn’ whose reputation stemmed from the fact he produced a better quality vintage than normally obtained in the area at the time.
Jannie Louw is a Hobbyist winemaker. Jannie’s brother makes wine in Paarl at Baardeberg.
Production is low volume, high quality, in the garagiste style with Jannie taking meticulous care over all aspects. His range includes: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.
The Eikeboom Winery Vineyards
The Farm is around 900 hectares (Sheep, wheat, Cattle, and grapes.)
30 hectares of grapes. Production about 1,000 cases in total.
SALE
The colour is purple-tinged garnet.The aromatic range of the nose goes from fresh berries (wild raspberry, blackcurrant, blackberry) to spices.The palate is big and full-flavoured, with silky-smooth tannins and aromas of the fruit already mentioned. The finish introduces touches of liquorice and pepper. A Côtes du Rhône with great complexity for an every day drinking.
A classic Rhône to drink between 1 and 4 years.
Charles Thomas Cotes Du Rhone Rouge is made from 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre
Ruby wine with overtones of red berry fruits. Round and supple with smooth aftertaste.
56 Ha grown organically since March 2009 (in conversion). Part of the vineyard is plowed with horses. Mechanical harvest. Yields: 48 hectoliters per Hectares. Average age of the vines : 30 years old.
A good all round red wine for meat courses, poultry and light cheeses. Best drunk now while fresh with good keeping up to 4 years.
-150x300.jpg "Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV")
Colmant Brut Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay (Franschhoek and Robertson).
15% of the base wine has been barrel fermented.
Ageing: This wine spends a minimum of 45 months on the lees at a consistent temperature of 14C before degorgement.
Tasting: Delicate light gold color with a lime-green hue. The nose is fresh, lemony and floral with notes of green apple, followed by yeasty and biscuity aromas brought by the lengthy maturation on the lees. Very fine bead of bubbles with a persistent mousse. Opulent on the palate, this wine shows a harmonious balance between fresh zestiness, mineral complexity and a warm breadth of leesy creaminess. It promises to develop great texture over time.
Drinking tips: Ideal with pan fried scallops or line fish "au beurre blanc", it is also the oyster's best friend and will enhance the flavors of parmesan, asparagus, artichokes, parma ham,…
There are many alternatives to Champagne, and South Africa is no exception with some fine “Method Cap Classique.” Jean-Philippe Colmant hired winemaker Nicolas Follet to create a small range of impressive sparkling wines; they eschew malolactic fermentation and practice extended lees aging.- NM" - eRobertParker.com (Issue #196, August 2011), 92 pts
"Pale straw with a ï¬ne bead and scents of biscuit and lemon zest. The NV Brut is richly flavorful and full, a complete wine with a long ï¬nish. Tasted blind, it can easily be mistaken for good quality Champagne. Spends 4 years on the lees; 15% of the base wine is fermented in barrel. Disgorged 9 months ago. A blend of Robertson and Franschhoek grapes from the Colmant vineyard."
- I-WineReview (February 2014), 92 pts
"Our favorite Colmant sparkler by far, this blanc de blancs would easily pass for good quality Champagne. It’s pale straw with a fine bead with biscuit and lemon aromas. Very flavorful and complex on a rich palate with a persistent finish, it’s 100% Chardonnay, 15% barrel fermented, and spends 4 years on the lees. RS 5 g/L"
- I-WineReview (January 2014), 92 pts
"This NV Brut Chardonnay is delicate with fine lemon citrus and freshly baked bread notes. Shows bracing acidity on the finish. Aged on the lees for 42 months with 15% of the base wine fermented in oak. Another winner from Jean-Philippe Colmant and Nicolas Follet."
- I-WineReview, 91 pts
"Disgorged March 2011, the superb Non-Vintage Brut Chardonnay is based on the 2007 vintage, whole bunch pressed with 18% fermented in oak and 45 months on the lees. It has a very subtle, more “wine-like” bouquet with very fine delineation, dewy green apples, a touch of wet limestone and a touch of flint. The palate has good weight on the entry with fresh green apple once again mingling with a little peach and Clementine in the background leading to a racy finish.
Platter highly recommanded, **** 1/2
Voted BEST SA BLANC DE BLANCS NV at the Cap Classic Challenge 2013.
A polished light yellow gold colour, this wine has a bouquet of citrus blossom with hazelnut, lemon grass and butterscotch undertones. The wine has a soft sweet entry with a racy linear acidity. Ripe citrus and stone fruit flavours evolve into a lovely lingering dry earthy finish. This is a textured white wine with layers of flavour. Drink 2015-2024.
Review:
"The 2014 Riverside Chenin Blanc will be released around November this year. Alex Starey told me that he used a similar section of the vineyard. He had to use two new barrels because he ran out out of used ones! That said, it is difficult to discern the new oak on the nose, attractive nutmeg and spice notes developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a waxy texture, rounded in the mouth with nicely judged acidity, reining everything in towards the finish with just a touch of lemongrass lending frisson. This is very fine. - Neal Martin."
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (November 2015), 92pts
Blend: Colmant Brut Reserve NV is a blend of Pinot Noir 52%, Chardonnay 48% (Franschhoek, Robertson, Elgin, Somerset-West and Stellenbosch). 10% of the blend is made of reserve wine from the previous vintage and 12% of the base wine is barrel fermented.
Ageing: 28 months minimum on the lees at steady 13°C temperature.
Tasting: A subtle pale gold color with a very clean and elegant nose. The aroma has a gentle spicy toastiness with a lemon / yeasty perfume followed by more mature fruit. Plenty of freshness on the palate, with a good acidity which perfectly balances the yeasty depth, bready flavors and ample structure. Long smooth finish. Will develop nicely over the years.
Drinking tips: Divine as an aperitif and loyal as a party buddy, it also goes perfectly with oysters, sushis or any delicate seafood.
Reviews:
"The Brut Reserve (disgorged April 2018) was 10% fermented in French oak barrel and includes 20% reserve vintages. It spent 30 months on the lees. The well-defined, focused nose features bright citrus lemon and hints of baked bread. The palate is well balanced with a taut, crisp, citric entry. This is vivacious, very pretty and graced with lovely apricot hints on the finish. A superb MCC from Colmant. - Neal Martin"
- Vinous (August 28th 2018), 91 pts
"Fresh with leesy notes, a fine mousse and delicate palate of minerals and green citrus zest, this is a first class New World sparkler. It’s rich enough to enjoy on its own or with white meats. It’s a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay aged on the lees for 30 months and 25% reserve wines from earlier vintages."
-International Wine Review, 91 pts
"Disgorged February 2011, the Non-vintage Brut Reserve is a blend of 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay based on the 2008 vintages blended with reserve wines from 2007 and 2006 (25% of the blend), aged for 30 months on the lees. It has a very fine pettillance in the glass. The nose is very well defined with crushed stone, oyster shell and the subtle perfume of fine lees coming through with aeration. The palate is very crisp and lively on the entry with vibrant acidity, a citrus thread from start to finish, and though it is not a powerful Cap Classique, it is wonderfully poised with great persistence on the fresh lime and Granny Smith-tinged finish.
There are many alternatives to Champagne, and South Africa is no exception with some fine “Method Cap Classique.” Jean-Philippe Colmant hired winemaker Nicolas Follet to create a small range of impressive sparkling wines; they eschew malolactic fermentation and practice extended lees aging."
- eRobertParker.com , 92 pts
Our Hunt for Colmant:
It was day 6 in South Africa and we find ourselves outside of beautiful Cape Town, in the country near the Riebeek Kasteel area in Swartland. Let's talk a little about my accommodations before I tell you about this amazing bubbly. We arrive at the one and only hotel in Riebeek to find out that there were not enough rooms open for all.
We reached out to our contact at Riebeek cellars, who we will refer to as "Point Break" from now on. For those of you that have not seen the movie Point Break, this guy looked and sounded like a blonde Keanu Reeves with a Dutch accent. Anyway, Point Break tells me that they have secured a small bed and breakfast that we could use for the overflow. Sounded nice...so I opted for it.
Upon arrival, the home was beautiful on the outside with a catchy French name, "Shades of Provence". After Point Break fiddled with the skeleton key and lock for a good 35 minutes in the rain, we finally get to see the inside of our new home. The door opened straight into the kitchen where the first thing I noticed was the mouse sh*t all over the place. It was winter there and the mice were trying to stay warm, I'm sure. Little did they know this damn place had no heat.
Besides myself and my fiancee Sylvia, there were 3 other people and a total of four rooms. At this point I knew I better drag both our suitcases up those steps and get to the best room before everyone else. At stroke-causing speed, I skipped up the steps nearly knocking Point Break on his back and went through the rooms. I settled for a nice corner room with the least amount of dirt on the concrete floor and with only one or two spider webs on the wrought iron bed post.
For dinner that night, we returned to the hotel restaurant to join the rest of our group. The 5 of us forced to stay in the bed and breakfast were in a far worse mood than everyone around us. Arriving late, we sat at the end of the dinning table and hoarded as much wine as possible to try and drink ourselves to a point where we could sleep in that disgrace of a French country side home that Point Break secured for us.
That night, I slept with the lights on, all my clothes on, and on top of the sheets hoping to avoid spider bites. I awoke that morning to Sylvia standing over me holding what looked like a hot water knob off of the shower. "It wasn't even attached.", she said. Sylvia proceeds to take a "whore-bath" in the sink using her own packed sock as a wash cloth. It was the only thing she deemed clean. To top it off, in a brief moment of happiness she finds a hair dryer in a cabinet. She pulled it out in triumph only to realize that there was a used condom stuck to the side of it. Obviously, this is her last trip to South Africa.
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What this vineyard captures, more so than any other Pinot Noir site that I have tasted, is both power and elegance. Bright and forceful Bing cherries and dark berries along with the slightest hue of roasted coffee bean on the nose. Immediate and broad textured tannins cover the palate as flavors of black raspberries, licorice and black tea leaves unravel. Oak-inspired overtones of crispy charred marshmellows and fall spice with balance acids elongate a finish that reverbs for hours.
What this vineyard captures, more so than any other Pinot Noir site that I have tasted, is both power and elegance. Bright and forceful Bing cherries and dark berries along with the slightest hue of roasted coffee bean on the nose. Immediate and broad textured tannins cover the palate as flavors of black raspberries, licorice and black tea leaves unravel. Oak-inspired overtones of crispy charred marshmellows and fall spice with balance acids elongate a finish that reverbs for hours.
The Soberanes Vineyard is the latest exciting joint venture between the Pisoni and Franscioni Families. The site features tightly spaced vines and is planted to 33 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah and sits on the Santa Lucia Highlands Bench adjacent to the Garys' Vineyard. The clonal material planted in the loamy, rocky soil is very diverse and features over a dozen of the most renowned heritage selections from California and Burgundy in pursuit of the finest wine quality.
Review:
The vineyard is famous for producing ripe, luscious Pinots stuffed with massive fruit. Many wineries have dipped into it over the years. Krutz’s rendition is dry, balanced and full-bodied, with relatively high alcohol framing raspberry, cherry, cola, red plum, exotic spice and sandalwood flavors. It should age well through 2020–2022.
- Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
Lyrarakis Za Za Zu Sparkling is made from Vilana, Vidiano and Muscat of Spina
A gentle sweet kiss of peach and juicy stone fruit that excites the senses and tickles the tongue with bubbly delight followed by aromas of a spring breeze bringing scents of apple and cherry blossom with hints of baby’s breath, lily and a garden of white flowers. There is a delicate sweetness to this wine that lends itself to enjoying with friends or peaceful contemplation.
Region: Alagni area, central Crete
Soil: Clay loam
pruning technique: Cordon trained, spur pruned
Altitude: 520m above sea level
Irrigation: Not irrigated
Yield: 8.5 tn/ha
Winemaking: Hand harvested in the last week of August. Grapes are vinificated separately.
Blending was performed using internal tasting results, choosing the ones with the best characteristics of texture and freshness. Secondary fermentation adds subtle creamy complexity and gives the wine its attractive fine gas bead and mousse.
Alcohol: 10% ABV
Acidity: 5.7 g/L
pH: 3.15
RS: 4.29 g/100ML
Food pairing: Fruit paste desserts, vegetable risotto and a large variety of antipasti.
