Estate owner, Giulio Bertrand, imported and installed the latest Pieralisi press into his olive factory in time for the 2017 olive harvest on his farm. “It is the first of its kind in South Africa and is very efficient so we retain even better flavour than before. The quality of our 2017 olive oil is fantastic!” Bertrand said during his annual olive harvest festival on Morgenster in mid- May.
New labelling
Bertrand has also rebranded his wines, with his two latest red Bordeaux blends, Morgenster Reserve 2013 and Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2013 being released under slightly amended labels.
He has also made changes to labels of his Italian cultivar wines. These appear with the new releases of Tosca and Nabucco 2014 and Caruso 2017.
The biggest change has been to the rebranding of his single varietal range, with Morgenster Sauvignon Blanc 2017 and Morgenster Sangiovese 2017 being the first to feature new labels.
Morgenster Reserve 2013 is the Estate’s flagship red Bordeaux blend, the fourth from cellar master Henry Kotzé. 2013 was a great harvest and as usual, the vintage determined the blend. The wine, which has already been highly rated, was shaped in collaboration with Pierre Lurton, Morgenster’s consultant winemaker from Château Cheval Blanc, and is 39% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot and 13% Cabernet Franc.
It has an intense nose of plum, red and black berry, almonds, coffee with toffee and classic pencil shavings, cigar box and cassis. Mouth filling elegance has a cashmere feel of finely interwoven tannins engulfing sweeter, dark berry fruit. Kotzé has achieved a fine balance of acidity over minerality and youthful fruit. This is a luscious wine to drink on its own and will enhance big flavoured meals which present rich and bold flavours.
Morgenster 2013 is available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at around R405.
Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2013
Morgenster Lourens River 2013 red Bordeaux blend is made in an easily accessible style which lets the fruit do the talking first, balanced with tannins and acidity. Evolution and longevity are as usual part of this typical Morgenster offering from cellar master Henry Kotze. Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2013 was blended in consultation with Pierre Lurton from Château Chevel Blanc into one made up of 47% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon.
It offers rewarding aromas of black and red cherries, strawberry shortcake and cassis with earthy and spicy nuances of liquorice, vanilla and sweet cinnamon. In the mouth, flavours of ripe fruit are wound into elegant tannins. Kotzé recommends decanting this vintage as aeration releases further plum, mulberry and raspberry aromas and more abundant mouth flavours. It pairs well with big flavoured meat and Italian dishes.
Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2013 was awarded 4½ stars in the 2017 John Platter Guide. Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R196.
Morgenster White Reserve 2015 is the Estate’s fifth vintage of its classic Bordeaux white made to complement what people expect from a Morgenster red Bordeaux: elegance now, with concentration and more complexity to follow, and longevity as a result. It has been crafted by cellar master Henry Kotzé from grapes sourced from the Schapenberg area not further than one kilometre from the cellar. The blend crafted in consultation with Pierre Lurton at Château Cheval Blanc is Sauvignon Blanc 55% and Semillon 45%.
The aroma is delightfully fragrant, with ripe and fresh notes of verbena, white peach, apricot and jasmine followed by pineapple, orange flower and beautiful stone fruit, which follow through to an elegant palate. It is a perfect match for seafood.
Morgenster White Reserve 2015 was awarded 4½ stars in the 2017 John Platter Guide. Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R225.50.
Morgenster Nabucco 2014 is Bertrand’s first certified “Single vineyard wine” and is the eighth release from his treasured 1.6 hectare Nebbiolo vineyard. Validating his passion, patience and investment, this wine, made in the Italian manner, delivers the gravitas normally associated with international Nebbiolo and is regarded as a benchmark for wines from this cultivar made in South Africa.
The aroma accords with the best in the world, promoting spice and flavours of the earth rather than fruit sweetness. There are wafts of intense lilac, thyme, lavender and basil flower, and a spicy sweetness of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. On the palate the flavours are complex, lingering and enticingly put together with sweet strawberry, pomegranate and a cherry acidity zing. Cellar master Henry Kotzé says this vintage will be offering much pleasure at age 20.
Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R351.
Morgenster Tosca 2014
Bertrand’s belief that great Italian wine can be made in the Italian manner from great imported Italian clones on Morgenster is increasingly being recognised internationally. This is his eighth wine made in the Super Tuscan style of primarily Sangiovese (75%) blended with noble Bordeaux varieties of Merlot (12.5%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (12.5%). As with all Morgenster’s wines, age-ability is a cornerstone, and while cellar master Henry Kotzé says it is delicious now, Tosca 2014 is only starting on its path of evolution.
The nose abounds in the glorious array of Sangiovese aromas - deep scented fruit and sweet spices, with herbaceous and meaty notes. The taste reveals soft velvety tannins naturally balanced with acidity and fruit sweetness. The wine’s long lasting sensation pairs well with food, particularly savoury risotto, anything with tomatoes and hard cheeses.
Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R236.
Morgenster Caruso 2017
The third of Bertrand’s Italian styled wines named with an operatic theme, Morgenster Caruso 2017 is a complex rosé of pure Sangiovese. It is the ninth vintage from the Estate’s 1.8 ha. block of Sangiovese. Cellar master picked in three “tries” to reach an optimal representative flavour profile which Bertrand says reminds him of “the taste of summer in Italy”.
It offers great intensity of sweet black cherry and pomegranate, lingering spice and herbaceousness with hints of rooibos tea and candy floss to the nose. In the mouth it has a soft velvety feel with a freshness of berries and cranberry type tanginess. Lovely on its own or with food, especially anything made with tomatoes.
Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R110.
Morgenster Sauvignon Blanc 2017
One of the Estate’s first single varietal wines to be rebranded under new labelling, this is the fifth release of this cultivar. Cellar master Henry Kotzé crafted it to suit a wide range of tastes and occasions, with focus on enjoyment.
Picked a bit riper to present a range of tropical flavours, it displays litchi, melon, mango and some herbs to the nose. In the mouth it is balanced with a soft lingering acidity giving way to a sweet concentration of fruit. Enjoyable on its own, it pairs well with food like salads, fish or poultry dishes.
Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R80.
Morgenster Sangiovese 2017
This is the second of the Estate’s single varietal wines to be rebranded under new labelling and is one which cellar master Henry Kotzé punts as “Morgenster’s version of Chianti”. His affection and respect for the cultivar shines through his styling of a delicious anytime, anywhere wine, light, fresh and fruit driven.
On the nose, powerful Sangiovese aromas abound - cassis, cherry, raspberry, coffee, almond and vanilla undertones as well as subtler tones of rose petals and lavender. In the mouth, there is initial fruit sweetness with an appealing freshness of cherry and dark prune against soft tannins and acidity.
Available from the Estate, Morgenster’s online shop http://shop.morgenster.co.za/ or selected retail outlets at RSP around R105