in the vineyard : At 33º 44’ latitude 18º 48’ longitude, the surveyor general’s trigonometric Beacon 194 rises above a mound of Ancient metamorphic shale. Formally the bed of a primordial ocean, these shales were blasted into a mound by the heating actions of magma penetrating close to the earth’s surface. The Dreyer family has farmed in Paarl since 1705. Willie the present generation Dreyer farmer has a intimate knowledge of dry land farming. Unirrigated bush vines battle through large, flat, grey shale stone. The roots must claw their way deep beneath the rock in search of moisture and nutrients. Nature and the farmer work a double shift: the Glenrosa soils of Paarl encourage grape-bunches with tiny berries; the vines are pruned to bear a small crop. The joint result is a wine of considerable concentration and distinction.
This dry farmed vineyard was planted in 1995, using Shiraz clone SH9A, grafted onto rootstock R110. The deep Glenrosa soil type, retains soil moisture well, and ripens the crop early without stressing, during our long hot summers. Planted in a North - Westerly facing rocky outcrop, the vines are pruned to a “bosstok†or bush vine. Depending on the growth, the vine is pruned to between 3 and 5 bearers per vine. Summer canopy management including a topping, which will reduce wind damage and green cropping at 80% veraison to ensure even ripening. The vineyard is regularly visited during the ripening period and tested by tasting, visual and analytical examination to determine exact picking date.
in the cellar : The fruit was destalked and lightly crushed. The must then chilled and cold soaked for 5 days before fermentation begun. The wine was pressed off when dry and transferred to new French 225 liter barrels. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel. The wine was then racked, lightly sulphured and returned to barrel. The wine spent a total of 16 months in oak.