Vineyard Selection Shiraz Mourvedre Viognier

Beef, Lamb, Game (deer, venison), Poultry

The grapes for this wine were sourced from selected parcels of fruit from across the Western Cape. The blend consists of 68% Shiraz, predominantly from the Stellenbosch region, 31% Mourvédre and 1% Viognier. Careful attention was paid to our viticulture practices to ensure optimum ripening conditions in the canopy and to achieve physiological ripeness. As always, a very careful ‘green harvest’ was carried out just after veraison to ensure even ripening and a good concentration of flavours. 2018 was yet again a very dry season and a relatively warm winter. This posed a few problems that the winemaking team had to manage carefully in the winery and at blending.

After pressing, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in tank before being transferred for maturation to a combination of older oak barrels for a period of 14 months. The Viognier component was pressed and cold fermented in tank. The wine was left to mature in tank on the yeast lees until being racked for blending with the other components.

Each of the varietals were harvested and vinified separately for each parcel to be picked at the correct time to contribute the desired characteristics in the final blend. For the red component, the grapes were transferred to tank for fermentation after destemming but no crushing i.e., whole-berry pressing. To preserve the freshness and elegance of this typical Rhone style blend the grapes were gently handled during fermentation and were only pumped-over twice a day.

Kleine Zalze wines are marked by a classical structure and complexity matched by a vibrant flavour intensity. Discernibly South African in style, they are refreshing, beautifully balanced and well-suited to food. Our wines are made according to traditional methods with minimal cellar intervention, but supported by modern equipment.