Durbanville HillsRhinofields Pinotage 2014 (R133.16 per bottle, 6 bottles)

About

The Rhinofields range refers to the indigenous Cape fynbos, Renosterveld, growing close to the Durbanville Hills cellar and which is being conserved on member farms. The Durbanville ward is considered one of the Cape’s coolest wine regions, thanks to the sea breezes that drift inland from False Bay and Table Bay and the late afternoon mists that bathe the slopes. These conditions are ideal for the slow ripening of the grapes, allowing them to develop their full-flavoured and intense character. Grapes are sourced only from the shareholder growers, all of whom farm within the limited appellation of Durbanville. Meticulous canopy management promotes concentration of varietal flavour and colour.

Product Features

• Super-ripe, bold and extracted, showing bramble jam and coffee cake. Still very dense and masculine on the palate. A hit already with fans of full and rich Pinotage. Further cellaring or otherwise decanting recommended. 
• The unique character of this wine lies in the influence of the different vineyards from which the grapes were sourced. The grapes were selected from two distinctly different vineyards – one on a sunny, north-facing hill, chosen for the prominent varietal aromas of the grapes, and the other on a cool, south-facing slope, chosen for the sound structure the grapes would impart to the wine.
• Hand-harvested during March between 25° and 26° Balling, the grapes from these two vineyards were vinified separately. After 24 hours of cold soaking, the must was fermented on the skins (between 26°C and 28°C) in closed, specially designed auto fermenters (until dry). During this period the maximum fruit, colour and tannin extraction from the skins was made possible through very soft, continuous timer-regulated pump-over cycles. To soften the texture, the wine was left on the skins for one week after the fermentation period. Controlled malolactic fermentation took place in tank after which the wine was matured for 14 months in small oak using new French oak barrels.
• Winemaker: Martin Moore and Wilhelm Coetzee
• Colour: Dark ruby red.
• Nose: Rich ripe dark fruit, choc mint, subtle oak spice and undertones of vanilla

Product Specification

• Alcohol: 13.88%
• Residual Sugar: 2.9g/l
• Total Acidity: 5.8g/l
• PH 3.57