Tabula Rasa PN667

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

The 2020 growing season started slightly earlier after a Winter with slightly below average rainfall and slightly above average temperatures. During Spring we has a significant weather event that gave us 135mm of rain and some hail on one weekend. our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines were mostly through flowering but we still saw some millerandage which reduced the crop size. Summer was mild with cool nights that ensured gradual ripening and retention of high natural acidities. During the final ripening phase, we received above average rainfall close to harvest which meant that disease control was crucial. We harvest a small, healthy and concentrated crop between 28 January and 5 February, one of the earliest harvests to date. The resulting wines are beautifully fresh and expressive, with great natural acidity levels but yet has amazing texture and length.

Barrel maturation for 10 months before bottling.

Fruit is hand-picked from selected vines within our South Ridge High-Density block, placed into lugs and meticulously hand sorted at the winery. 15% is left as whole bunches while the remaining de stemmed berries are dropped uncrushed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes underwent 5 days of cold maceration before spontaneous fermentation ensued. Two gentle punch downs a day led to delicate colour and flavour extraction. Malolactic fermentation ensued in barrel. A careful approach to maturation using lightly toasted French oak from artisanal cooperages in Burgundy encourages finesse, balance and allows the fruit to come to the fore.

Oak Valley is situated high along the Groenlandberg Mountain Range in one of the coolest wine growing regions in South Africa; Elgin. Attention to detail in the vineyards and our minimalist intervention approach in the cellar is what shapes our cool climate wine styles. Oak Valley’s signature is elegance.