Skaamgesiggie

Enjoy on its own or with oysters, salads, sushi, salmon and trout and duck breast.

The growing season started with a very dry spring and less wind than normal. Conditions were good until we were hit with a gull force, late cold front on 28 October. This brought a hail storm with stones the size of Shiraz berries driven by a gale force South West wind which ripped the leaves and shoots of our vines. Within 10 minutes the damage was done. In the middle of January a black South Easter tormented us for 10 consecutive days, accompanied by 115mm if rain and very high humidity. By the 4th of February harvest was in full swing and despite my worries the grapes came into the cellar with no sour rot and only a small percentage of botrytis. The average temperature for February was 21.3° Celsius, this is 0.8°C warmer than the average for the last 16 years. Despite the challenging conditions, the resulting low yield of 2.3ton per hectare harvested in February and March made amazing wines. The wines produced from the 2020 harvest are fresh and elegant with almost 1% less alcohol.

After fermentation the base wine was matured in 500L French oak barrels for 6 months. After maturation the base wine reinnoculated with yeast and a small amount of sugar ("liquer de tirage"), and bottled under crown cap for a second fermentation ("prise de mousse") The wine was kept on its lees for 24 months before degorging.

Specially selected Pinot Noir grapes were harvested in 18.5°B. The grapes were cooled to 2°C and then loaded whole bunch into the press, 5 hours skin contact was allowed and the only the first 550l/ton juice was obtained by a gentle pressing. The clear juive was cold fermented with selected yeast strain.

Strandveld Vineyards lies between Elim and Cape Agulhas, just 9km from the sea, shaped by strong winds, cool temperatures, and a maritime climate. Its unique terroir of coastal conditions and diverse soils gives the wines their distinctive character. Inspired by early explorers, the vineyards were established in 2001 by pioneers drawn to this rugged, promising landscape.