
The Leopards's Leap Estate
Situated at the most southern tip of the African continent, South Africa is a country rich in diversity, a nation steeped in history, and one with a bright future. Agriculture is one of the country’s principal industries, and its rich culture of winemaking spans 300 years. Today, one of the best ways to experience South Africa’s unique heritage is by tasting its world-class wines. Leopard’s Leap is based in the picturesque town of Franschhoek, situated in the heart of South Africa’s winelands, located in the Western Cape province. An hour’s drive from Cape Town, Franschhoek is not only home to some of the country’s finest wine estates, but is also considered to be the culinary capital of South Africa.
The Name Leopard's Leap refers to the Cape Leopard and the efforts of the winery to reinstate the Cape Leopard.
"We are a proud sponsor of the Cape Leopard Trust, a NGO aiming to optimally facilitate conservation of the Cape region's predators, in particular the endangered Cape mountain leopard.
Cape mountain leopards fill the role of apex predators in the Western Cape ecosystem and act as an 'umbrella species' to control the numbers of smaller predators. In effect, they thus help with the conservation of other species by maintaining this balance. By simultaneously implementing conservation strategies, research projects and tourism initiatives, the trust works tirelessly to conserve these beautiful animals."
The Leopards's Leap Vineyards
We at Leopard’s Leap understand that the first thing the everyday consumer looks for when selecting wine is price. That is why we pride ourselves on producing excellent quality wine at affordable price points. Our winemaker, Eugene van Zyl, selects the best grape varietals from the Cape Winelands region, and strives to create wines that are high on quality and can compete with the best of South African wines. Our philosophy embodies creating wines that are popular with all palates and easy to drink, but does not compromise on quality, and can be served at a widevariety of social occasions. Leopard’s Leap produces three ranges. The premium Family Collection is at the top end, and with its sleek black, gold and red labels, these wines are perfect for special occasions. The elegant Classic Collection boasts a wide variety of well-structured wines that all pair exceptionally well with a wide selection of food. The Lookout Range is more fun-loving and is perfect for everyday drinking and as a companion to social events.
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Hickinbotham Brooks Road Shiraz is made from 100 percent Shiraz.
After the hand-picked Shiraz clusters were delivered from high country (210-230 meters) by Viticulturer Michael Lane, the winemaker destemmed and sorted the whole berries into open fermenters. The cold soak was four days, the skins plunged three times daily, and the minimum time on skins was eighteen days. The wine was then basket pressed; its free run and pressings kept separate. To minimize filtration at bottling, three rack-and-returns were conducted over fifteen months as the wine seasoned in a mixture of Burgundy-coopered barrels.
This Shiraz shows the characters this vineyard has displayed since the start, but perhaps in a more elegant, harmonious and balanced form. Its consistency is comforting and reassuring, buttressed by blue and black fruit notes throughout. It is readily enjoyable but has all the structure, acid and tannin to offer decades of rewards from cellaring.
Review:
A rich, succulent mix of dark chocolate, spiced plum, wild blackberry and black licorice notes. Showcases both power and elegance, with chai, cigar box, violets and dried sage notes, velvety and generous, on the long, generous finish. Drink now through 2035. 1,900 cases made, 370 cases imported
-Wine Spectator 95 Points
Montes Alpha M 2019 is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.
Montes Alpha M is the result of an extremely limited production and a rigorous selection of the grapes, one by one, led by Aurelio Montes. Coming from the Colchagua Valley, it is one of the best and most awarded wines of Chile. The vineyards that give rise to Montes Alpha M are located in the Apalta zone of the Colchagua Valley. The soils are of granitic origin and are shallow in the upper, mountainous sectors. They vary in the clay content, depth, amount of organic matter, and especially the types of rocks and stones they are made up of. The soils origin can also range from fluvial to glacial, which shows the great diversity of soils in our vineyards. Some zones are influenced by the Tinguiririca River and others by mudslides and the detachment of material from high above in the mountain chain that delimits the valley.
Review:
Deep nose, but really fresh at the same time. Currants, blackberries and chili-pepper chocolate with cedary and meaty undertones. This is really juicy, with a tight, tensely framed palate, underscored by lots of creamy, dusty tannins. A lengthy, refined and elegant expression of cabernet sauvignon, but a strong statement from Colchagua. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 97 Points