FRANSCHHOEK CELLAR RESERVE SHIRAZ 2018

We have travelled over hills and through valleys to find vineyards so rare and special, they warrant the most lavish treatment the viticulturist can give. These patches of unique and distinctive terroir are delicately woven together by our winemaker resulting in the sophisticated, elegant wine with many interesting nuances in taste and texture.

The grapes used to make this wine originate from high-lying vineyards located on the slopes of the Paardeberg in the Swartland region. It is an area known to produce exceptional Shiraz. The soils are weathered granite, which imparts a distinctive mineral character to the fruit. These low-bearing vineyards are dryland farmed and yield grapes with outstanding concentration and purity.

The berries are quality sorted on arrival at the cellar to ensure that only the finest fruit are vinified. 24 hours of cold maceration on the skins allows maximum colour extraction to begin before the juice is inoculated with yeast and allowed to ferment at controlled temperatures. Regular pump-overs and punch-downs are performed on the fermenting wines for additional colour and flavour development, before 8 to 12 months of French oak maturation. Finally, the wine is blended from only the best identified barrels and bottled for your pleasure.