LONGRIDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

Stellenbosch

Annual Rainfall: 590mm
Proximity to ocean: 8km - 16km

Hutton, Clovelly and decomposed shales

The grapes for this wine we sourced from the Helderberg, Devon Valley and Somerset-West. All vines are trellised and had two 10mm drip irrigations. Leaves were broken out on the "shade" side in mid November 2006. At version (4th Jan 2007) we bunch sorted and reduced the crop by 30% and then plain sailing until harvest mid March 2007: where the grapes were small and yielding minimal juice.

Clinton Le Sueur

The juice was inoculated with specific yeast strains after 2 days cool soaking. Fermentation then took place between 23 & 25°C and was left on the skins for 12 days before being pressed. After "malo" the wine took to the dark caverness barrels with treckless abandon, where it matured and developed over a period of 18 months in 68% new French oak.

Alc: 13.84%
TA: 5.7 g/l
RS: 3.4 g/l
pH: 3.55

The deep inky colour promises fullness, depth of character and even an adventure. The wine doesn't disappoint, as it delivers a mulberry entry, hints of chalky-minerality, aromas reminiscent of hikes though fynbos in flower, buchu, prune and even dark chocolate covered orange peel. A full-bodied wine.

Drinking well on release but will reward the senses over the next 8 years.

Sunday's roast beef, lamb tartar with basil oil, braised oxtail, kudu steak with peppered berry sauce.