Mont Rochelle Little Rock Rouge 2018

Our Little Rock Rouge 2018 is a blended wine of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah with dollops of 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. We create this wine to be enjoyed for all occasions!

The 2018 harvest season was really challenging, due to a prolonged drought which some believe to be the worst in 100 years and accompanied by water restrictions and frost damage in some areas,” Winter arrived late, but was cold enough to break dormancy. Day temperatures were notably warmer and night temperatures colder than usual due to the dry conditions. Bud burst started later due to cooler weather extending into August and September. Uneven flowering and berry set was common due to windy conditions, cold periods and precipitation. The dry weather throughout the season did have its advantages as vines were healthy, with little or no pests and diseases being recorded. The number of grape bunches looked promising at first, but the berries were much smaller than usual, which affected the total tonnage. “Smaller berries usually have good colour and flavour intensity and this, along with cooler weather during harvest time relieved some pressure on vines and bode well for quality. Harvest time kicked off seven to 14 days later than usual, and much later than usual. Most cultivars were harvested in their common order, which meant that cellar space wasn’t under pressure.

Region: Franschhoek
Vine age: 13-22 years
Vines per Ha: 4,000
Altitude: 200-450m