Vin D’Or Noble Late Harvest

Pairs beautifully with blue cheese, foie gras, fruit-based desserts and crème brûlée. The wine also complements apricot tart, baked cheesecake and can be enjoyed on its own as a luxurious dessert wine.

The grapes used in this wine were picked from low-yielding vineyards to ensure good fruit concentration. The Viognier originates from the Elgin Valley. No irrigation and an extended hanging time in the vineyard allowed for superb concentration of flavours. Naturally the weather allowed for the formation of Botrytis, a fungus that grows on the grape skin, penetrating through the skin and creating a damaged spot from which moisture can slowly evaporate. Concentration in this case happens because of this slow evaporation and the Botrytis gives a unique taste to this wonderful work of nature. The grapes were hand-picked at the desired ripeness. Harvesting took place during mid-morning. The average sugar content of the grapes was between 35° and 40° Balling.

Due to the raisin-like condition of Noble Late grapes, we do not crush the grapes for this unique style but rather take the whole bunches to the press for prolonged skin-contact and extraction. All the draining channels of the press are closed to retain the minuscule amount of juice created during the loading process. This juice helps with the soaking of the extraordinary flavours of the botrytised grapes ; that very distinctly show aromas of dried straw, honeysuckle, and honeycomb. Skin contact is given in the press for three days during which time the press is rotated morning, midday, and afternoon. After pressing, the juice is naturally cold settled prior to racking. Fermentation is started in stainless steel tanks, thereafter the fermenting juice is transferred to older barrels to complete the slow fermentation of Noble late Wine. Fermentation completes naturally due to the high osmotic potential of the wine and the consequent inhibition of the yeast.

Boschendal is nestled in one of the most picturesque valleys in the Cape wine lands, one of South Africas original wine farms eagerly awaits your arrival. With a wine making tradition spanning over 300 years, Boschendal Wine Estate offers a veritable treat for wine lovers everywhere. This gracious national treasure is a familiar favourite to many and a glorious discovery for countless others.