The Mentors Perold

Please note: Award stickers are applied at the producer's discretion and may not be present on all bottles.

This wine is a blend of varieties from regions and sites that have consistently produced wines of outstanding quality and style. In making the Perold Tributum we set out to produce a wine that over time will be recognized as the ultra-premium benchmark in South Africa. Only the best varieties, regions and sites are therefore considered. Our winemaking focuses on balanced structure, concentration and finesse. We utilize a combination of whole-berry fermentation and gentle pump-overs to ensure every bit of flavour is captured, with Pinotage taking priority. For this specific wine, the bunches were handpicked and sorted to ensure only the best of each variety went into the blend.

Winter 2016 provided sufficient cold and higher rainfall for a great start to this vintage. Regular, small rains in spring and cool to moderate temperatures provided conditions for good, earlyseason cane and canopy development. Bud break was even as was spring growth, but flowering was not – usually due to weather. Early leaf breaks directly after flowering allowed sunlight to even out the vintage, as did early green harvesting of retarded bunches. Growth and development sped up in moderate conditions that ensured outstanding vine health. Warmth from late December to January, drought and lighter yields, meant another record early start to harvest that ran until early March. Despite shifts in variety harvest order, wine quality looks fabulous.

After fermentation, the most promising wines of each cultivar were chosen to mature further in barrel. After 12 months, the best wines were singled out again and aged another six. This wine is truly about selecting the best-of-the-best.