Single Vineyard Malbec

Serve with roast leg of lamb, also great with matured cheese and preserves. Springbok fillet cooked in a Malbec reduction.

Planted on a western facing slope and in Glenrosa type soils on a deep shale base, this vineyard of Malbec ripens quite early yielding superior quality fruit with good analysis and a lovely vibrant natural acidity.

After malolactic fermentation finishes naturally on the skins, the grapes were pressed at -2° balling and matured in 40% new French oak as well as 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels for 12 months before racking and bottling in June 2020.

The grapes were hand picked and whole bunch sorted over a week and crushed and destemmed into a stainless steel tank. Most of the extraction happens during a coldsoak for two to three days, followed by a slow fermentation. With extended time on the skins post ferment, further aroma development is allowed.

The valley in which Doolhof lies is blessed with unique and varied terroirs. The microclimates, growing conditions and soil types make it ideal for growing wine grapes. The Estate lies between Bain’s Kloof and the Groenberg Mountain Range. The result is soils that are finer, more balanced and deeper than in the surrounding countryside with clay content evenly distributed. A combination of Malmesbury shale, homogenic Glenrosa and Clovelly soils ensure that the roots are able to descend to four metres or beyond. Roughly 40 of the farm’s 380 hectares are planted to vine. Soils, growing conditions and microclimates vary considerably across this large expanse (which reaches up into Bain’s Kloof), and each grape varietal is faithfully wedded to its ideal terroir. Two white varietals, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, are grown, with a substantial number of reds. They include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz. The white varietals are planted on the eastern slopes of the Groenberg, which allow the grapes cooler days and less direct sunlight. The late sunrise and early sunset also allow for a longer ripening process, enhancing the elegance of the award winning wines.