Cinsault

Game Bird, Pasta ad Ravioli.

The 2015 harvest had the earliest start in decades. A warm, dry and windy summer kept vineyard growth under control and accelerated ripening by approximately two weeks. The dry weather resulted in the healthiest seasons in years. This led to good grape analyses with low PH, good acidity and sugar levels which form the foundation of high quality wines.

Barrel aging commences for 12 – 15 months

Picked in small crates and left overnight in cold room to bring temperature down to roughly 10 degrees Celsius. The challenge is to interpret the current vintage conditions in order to balance whole bunch, destemming of grapes and adding stalks (tannins). A combination of whole bunch, destemmed grapes and stalks go into a stainless steel tank and left until natural fermentation starts. One to two soft pump overs per day and left for roughly 2 weeks, pressed and wine transferred into older 225L French oak barrels (minimum oxidation during the process)

Naudé Wines is the culmination of a journey that began more than 30 years ago. Since that first harvest I’ve worked all over the world hoping to craft wines that tell a story of time and place. I love the diversity we have in South Africa. Not just of the people but the soils the microclimates and the wine varietals that thrive under their own unique conditions. I’m fortunate to have been introduced to a few of these vineyards and work with some of the wonderful grapes that they produce many of these from certified old vines. The grapes on these vines are storied complex and unique. Each year they represent something different – whatever nature allows them – and with any luck I don’t get in the way.