Sam

A perfect accompaniment to the perfect cut of grilled beef or vegetarian options such as melanzane parmigiana or a tomato ragu.

2019 was the first vintage following the drought after a very cold and wet 2018 winter we went into a relatively cool and wet spring which continued into the summer and harvest period. This resulted in minimal stress throughout the growing and ripening season. The harvest was moderate in size and exceptional in quality. The vineyards are specially selected according to their age and site from various parts of Stellenbosch, mostly unirrigated and all low yielding (4 to 6 t/ha). This gives a pure expression of its environment in the wine. The grapes are ripened to peak maturity (between 23- and 25-degrees brix) before being hand harvested and delivered to the cellar and placed into a cold store overnight at 4 degrees Celsius.

Maturation takes place in small 225-liter French barriques of which 45% is new and the balance 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. Total maturation is for 22 months with regular racking’s. The wine received no fining or filtration before bottling.

The grapes were bunch sorted, destemmed, berry sorted and then partially crushed to small wooden upright fermenters. There is an initial cold maceration until the fermentation begins naturally. Post fermentation maceration is dependent on the ripeness of the fruit at picking and tannin development in the wine. The wine is then drained off and pressed in a vertical basket press. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel after which the wine is racked and returned to barrel for further maturation.

Miles Mossop Wines burst onto the scene in 2004 when the first wines were made: Max 2004 and Saskia 2004. Max is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot and more recently Malbec and Saskia a blend of Chenin blanc Viognier and more recently Clairette blanche. Later in 2009 a third wine was introduced the Kika 2009 a botrytised wine made in the Noble Late Harvest style from 100% Chenin blanc.