Stellenbosch for
the second time in the Novare Terroir Competition.
Noble Late Harvest is a viscous, very sweet
wine with excellent acidity, produced from white grapes affected by a benign
fungus, Botrytis
cinerea, commonly called noble rot. Under certain conditions in the vineyard, this
fungus attacks fully ripe grapes, feeding off their juice and dehydrating the
berries, which shrivel up into ‘oumensgesiggies’, the wizened faces of
the elderly, while turning brown and mouldy. The chemical chain-reaction that
takes place dramatically changes the flavour of the wine and the resulting
product is an extraordinary concentration of sweetness and acidity – an
opulent, rich, almost oily texture with upfront fruit flavours in a honeyed jus.
Made from 100% Semillon grapes the first Noble Late Harvest at
Lourensford was produced in 2004, thereafter in 2005, 2009 and now the 2012
that has been awarded.
The 2012 has an alluring, bright gold colour with a beautiful, inviting nose filled with ripe tropical fruits along with peach, pear and a hint of nettle and greengage - all on a backdrop of botrytis. There is an intense concentration in the mouth with great balance of all components held together by a keen acidity whilst fynbos honey hangs in the background all the while.
The competition was created to define the
various terroir types of the Cape.
Terroir has been the ‘buzzword’ among wine
aficionados for several years now. The basic concept is to discover wines that
best reflect the terroir in which they are produced.
There is a definite increase in producers who
want to portray the unique origins of their wines. In past years the Wine and
Spirit Board has registered various new wine wards and wine districts after
receiving applications from producers in those areas.
The Novare South African Terroir Wine Awards
honours the wines which truly portray South Africa’s different wine growing
areas. All entries must be a certified Wine of Origin from a specific
single vineyard, estate, ward or small district not divided
into wards.
(Read more at: http://www.terroirwineawards.co.za/)