The new range features:
Chardonnay 2015 - Made in a slightly oxidative, European style of Chardonnay, the Mont Rochelle Chardonnay expresses the true reflection of the Mont Rochelle terroir. Pale straw green in colour, the wine displays fresh citrus tones, with notes of apricot and peach stone fruits. There is an underlying flintiness and an angular minerality that is underpinned by a full palate and a long finish.
Sauvignon Blanc 2015 is made solely from fruit produced from our Mont Rochelle vineyards. A small percentage of Viognier and Semillon were blended into the wine, with part of the wine being fermented in neutral oak barrels for increased complexity and texture. Freshness and layered fruit complexity are the hallmarks of our Sauvignon Blanc. Pale straw with green tinges the wine displays a mix of tropical fruit characters on the nose. The lively palate exhibits hints of guava and limes and has a fresh citrus finish.
Little Rock Rouge 2014 is a blended wine of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with dollops of Mourvèdre and Petit Verdot all lending a helping hand to the final blend. This wine strikes a perfect balance between easy-drinking and complexity showing a balanced fruit profile and a smooth, soft palate. Deep purple in colour, this wine abounds in vibrant red fruit aromas reminiscent of crushed cranberries and raspberries. The palate is long and elegant with hints of vanilla with fine, polished tannins.
Miko Red 2009 was produced in honour of the late Mr. Miko Rwayitare. Miko Red’s are only produced in exceptional vintages, ensuring that the best wine possible is bottled in Miko’s memory. Minimal intervention in the cellar ensures that all Miko wines are the ultimate expression of Mont Rochelle's terroir. This wine shows an intense purple red colour, a classic wine boasting pepper and spice interlaced with intense black fruits and violets. There is a complex mouth feel of seductive blackberry fruits, spice and an enticing meatiness that combines harmoniously to produce a well-balanced wine.
Dustin Osborne, Winemaker at Mont Rochelle, commented: “We’re extremely excited to be able to launch this range of fantastic new wines. We’re very fortunate that the climate in this corner of the Western Cape lends itself to exceptional, Mediterranean-like conditions with dry summers and high winter rainfalls. The Franschhoek valley itself experiences the strong south-easterly wind which brings in cooler air, allowing for a longer ripening period. This results in more physiologically ripe fruit – all in all idyllic conditions for a wine maker!
“This has meant that I’ve been able to allow the wines to mature naturally over time, with minimal intervention. All are handcrafted, producing what we believe to be a far superior product. I certainly hope our guests are going to enjoy sampling them!”
The wine cellar at Mont Rochelle is over 150 years old and was previously used as a fruit packing shed for the early settlers. Since being converted to a traditional wine cellar Mont Rochelle can now process close to 110 tons of grapes in a season, these smaller volumes afford more concentration on quality rather than quantity. Stainless steel tanks aid in the making of the crisp clean whites, while barrels are favoured for the red wine making.
In 2015, Virgin Limited Edition appointed Litmus Wines Ltd to oversee the wine cellars and manage ongoing winemaking and international wine sales. Working closely with winemaker Dustin, the aim of the joint venture is to restore and further enhance the reputation of Mont Rochelle as one of the Cape’s great wine producers.
Wine tasting at Mont Rochelle isn't just a special event – it’s an everyday occurrence. The team can happily organise wine tastings in a variety of locations, including in Miko Restaurant, at the bar, in the Country Kitchen and in our wine cellar (as you might expect!).