WINE TASTING NOTES On the nose, this Rhône-style Shiraz showcases white pepper, plums and cassis. On the palate, it is a richly textured and wellbalanced wine with hints of pencil shavings and toasty oak, just enough to enhance the fruit profile.
VITICULTURE: Our Shiraz vines grow against the lower north-facing slopes of Simonsberg in well-drained Hutton and Clovelly soils. Here, the vines are tempered by the cool southwestern winds which allow the grapes to develop complex flavours with lots of fruit.
VINIFICATION: For fermentation, the grapes were pumped into concrete open casks, French oak barrels, or stainless-steel tanks. To extract the best flavours and colours, we regularly punched down the grapes, especially during the early stages of fermentation; thereafter we did gentle pump-overs. For post-fermentation maceration, we left the wine on the skins for 21 days before pressing the grapes. This was followed by malolactic fermentation in barrels for optimal oak integration.
MATURATION: The QR Shiraz was aged in 50% new 225-litre and 500-litre French oak barrels. After 22 months in the barrels, the wines were blended and bottled. The bottles were kept in the cellar for four years before release.
FOOD PAIRING Enjoy the 2018 QR Shiraz with barbequed steak, venison pie, braised short ribs, or lamb tagine. It also goes well with creamy blue cheese, camembert or sharp cheddar.
WINE INFORMATION: Cultivar/s | Shiraz 95% | Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Vintage | 2018 Origin | Simonsberg Stellenbosch Harvested | March 2018 Bottled | 22 January 2020
WINE ANALYSIS Alcohol: 14.68% Residual Sugar: 2.1g/L Total Acidity: 6.2g/L pH: 3.33