Ompad Red Blend

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The three varieties were harvested and vinified separately so that the best part of each could be preserved before blending. Component-led handling protected Tannat’s depth, Petit Verdot’s perfume and spice, and Carménère’s plush dark fruit and ripe tannin. Each wine matured separately in seasoned fifth-fill French oak.

Southern slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain All three components come from one concentrated area on the southern slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain. Red, mineral-rich decomposed granite dominates at varying depths, with smaller sandstone inclusions. Although the cultivars differ, their common origin gives the blend cohesion. In the finished wine, the site is expressed through lifted red cherry, strawberry and raspberry fruit within a darker spectrum, together with a fine mineral line and opulent, velvety tannins. The 2025 season A delayed winter and record July rainfall led to later bud burst, while ample follow-up rain supported balanced, healthy canopies through the growing season. January was notably cooler, and Stellenbosch recorded roughly half as many days above 35 °C as the previous season. Apart from two short heat peaks in late December, ripening remained measured; the harvest itself was dry and largely free of weather interruptions. Early cultivars started around two weeks later, while mid- and late-ripening reds returned to more usual picking windows. Healthy fruit, excellent colour and pronounced varietal character created the foundation for a structured yet polished red blend.

Once the equal-part blend was assembled, the wine returned to barrel for a further six months, completing approximately 14 months of maturation in total. The mature oak quietly polished the tannins and integrated the three components without obscuring their fruit or site expression.