Lievland Bush Vine Pinotage 2017

Lievland Bush Vine Pinotage 2017

Wine of Origin Paarl Grape Source A blend of vineyards from Paarl

Varietal Blend 88% Pinotage 9% Cinsault 3% Shiraz 

Tasting Notes

Made in an elegant and traditional style, this Pinotage shows vibrant fruity notes of fresh cherry, and raspberry, with a hint of vanilla given by the oak ageing. The palate exhibits savoury tannins with ample fruit and a lingering finish. A small addition of Cinsault enhances the aromas and adds to the elegance of this delicate Pinotage. This wine can be enjoyed with traditional South African dishes such as roasted Karoo lamb or Springbok pie, or even served slightly chilled with Cape Malay curried fish.

Vinification Details

The grapes were hand-picked into small lug boxes in the cool early mornings of February 2017 after which they were taken to the winery for de-stemming, crushing and chilling. After two days of cold maceration, commercial yeast was added to the tank. Mixing was done by means of pump overs three times daily. Due to Pinotage having a naturally thick skin, the wine was separated from the skins shortly after fermentation and pumped into French and American oak barrels. Ageing took place in an underground cellar over a 12 month period. All components were then racked and filtered before bottling in May 2018.

Vintage Description

2017 was a very dry and short season with hardly any rainfall. This resulted in substantial preservation of aromatics in the wines. Unusually cool evenings were much appreciated and resulted in a healthy crop with minimal threat of disease. The lower temperatures also encouraged good moisture retention in the soils, thus lending intensely concentrated colour to the red wines.