Viejo Isaias Malbec Clasico 2018

The Rubus Sauvignon Blanc was produced from grapes grown in selected Waipara Valley vineyards.
The extended growing season of warm, fine days and cool nights ensured the fruit was harvested in wonderful condition mid April.

This wine shows rich gooseberry and tropical fruit aromas with an edge of complexity. The palate is lively and refreshing with a long, lingering finish.

Following harvest the fruit was gently pressed, settled and racked to fermentation. The juice was then cool fermented for 21 days and left on yeast lees contact for a further two months prior to blending, light fining, filtering and bottling. Analysis at Bottling: 3.35 pH 6.5 g/l Total Acid 12 % Alcohol 2.0 g/l Residual Sugar

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Produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes, which are hand harvested from the Montebuena vineyard.
Brilliant deep ruby red color, fruity aromas .

Montebuena Red has a spicy vanilla bouquet and is smooth and fruity in the mouth with some well-integrated secondary nuances, full-flavored and a persistent pleasant finish. Pairs well with beef & lamb dishes, stews & cheeses.

Palacio del Burgo Rioja Reserva is made from 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha & 5% Carignan.

Red ruby color; black pepper and vanilla flavors and some mature black fruit taste too. Well-balanced, well-structured and elegant in mouth displaying some splendid taste of fruit and bouquet too.

Babylons Peak Pinotage is made from 100 percent Pinotage.

Babylon's Peak winery, situated on the highest weathered granite slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, is privately owned by the Basson family who has passed down the tradition, passion and art of winemaking over four generations. Predominantly low-yield dryland bushvines are selected to produce these excellent wines with distinctive character.

Dark red color, with ripe plums and mocha on the nose. Dark fruit followed by spice on the palate. A well balanced wine with smooth integrated tannins.

The Pinotage is dryland bushvines, planted on the highest south-east facing granite slopes on the farm. Due to its unique terroir, this vineyard ripens slowly over a very long period. This results in very dark color, soft tannins and good flavor compounds. The baboons normally harvest their quantity first and we pick the rest.

The grapes were harvested by hand at 25,6°B.and destalked only. No crushing was done. Cold maceration was done before fermentation started in open fermenters. The grapes fermented between 24-26°C for 5-7 days, after which the wine was taken to barrels where it went through malolactic fermentation. After malolactic fermentation was completed, the wine spent 12 months in 225 liter French oak barrels until bottling.

Pairs with lamb, bobotie and braaied red meat.

Review:

"Semi-opaque. An outstanding value in South African Pinotage, the 2017 vintage shows an effusive nose of dark cherry, chocolate and tobacco. It’s big and rich in the mouth with flavors that evoke black raspberry and dark cocoa powder. Quite ripe in style with a long finish. At 14.5° alcohol, it’s a big wine. - Don Winkler" - i-winereview.com (The Wines of Babylon’s Peak in South Africa’s Swartland, September 30th 2019), 90+ pts

Castelmaure Grande Cuvee Corbieres Rouge is made from 50% Grenache (30 year old) and 50% Syrah (30 year old).. 

In the early 1990’s, Castelmaure began experimenting with a Prestige Cuvée of Corbières.  This wine has become known as “Grande Cuvée” and is made with the help of the winemaking team of Tardieu-Laurent.

Vinification: destemming, pneumatic press, end of fermentation at 25 degrees C; two racking; aging in tank then in 220 Liter Bordeaux barrels for 10-12 months. Egg fining, slight filtration..

Deep and intense color, powerful aromas of dark berry fruit, prune and coffee nuances, and a persistent finish.

Vineyards: planted on 50% Schist and 50% limestone soils.

Reviews:

GOLD MEDAL - 2019 Concours Paris

"An intrigue of graceful fruit and floral notes interwoven with a star anise and dark plum sauce richness. - Blind tasted by Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, Andrew Jefford & Frederic Marti."

- Decanter Magazine (Corbières Reds: Panel tasting results, April 2020), 91 pts

TASTING NOTES:

A black cherry color with intense violet hues. Aromas are dominated by ripe red fruits, minerals and blue flowers. Fine, concentrated and exquisite on the palate, it is fleshy, fragrant, and full bodied.

Grape varietal: 100% Mencia
Average age of the vines: 45-55 years
Vineyard's altitude: 450-480 meters above sea level
Pre-fermentation maceration: 3-5 days at 4-6 degres celcius
Alcoholic fermentation: 6-10 days
Maceration: 4-10 days
Malolactic fermentation: 5-9 days
Ageing: 2 months in stainless steel tank and then 2 months in the bottle.

Review:

"A silky texture carries harmonious, if somewhat muted, flavors of red plum, tobacco, sage and mineral in this focused red. Light, well-integrated tannins and lively acidity give this balance. Should bloom in a year or two. Drink now through 2024. 1,500 cases made. – T.M."
- Wine Spectator (April 30th, 2018), 91 points