Spier Frans K Smit 75cl 2015
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Description
The 2015 will be remembered for many, many years to come. Delivering the total package in terms of weather conditions, it is particularly unique compared to other years for both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. When everything lines up like it did, with the fairly dry and cool summer that we experienced, the wine is just so much more in balance. All the grapes are of Helderberg origin, so we were able to achieve consistency in style. Cabernet Sauvignon was everything we wanted it to be, so we gave it dominance, and adding a small percentage of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot brought the aroma and structure to this truly Bordeaux-style blend.” – Frans K Smit, Cellar Master
Awards
Gold Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
94 pts Tim Atkin
5 stars Platter's South African Wine Guide
Certificates
Alcohol
14.92%
Analytical data
dry
Vinification
Grapes were hand-harvested, de-stemmed and hand-sorted so that the smaller berries (which have a greater concentration of fruit and tannins) were selected.
Vineyard: South-East facing slopes
The vineyards selected for this wine are all planted on vertical trellis systems ranging from 10 – 12 years old at harvest
Soil Type
Decomposed granite soils with clay subsoil
Viticulture
Average daily temperatures in the winter 10 - 12°C; summer 20 - 25°C. The annual rainfall is 450mm. The vineyards selected for this wine are all planted on vertical trellis systems ranging from 10 – 12 years old at harvest. Very low yields ensure concentrated fruit.
Maturation
Fermentation took place in open-top oak fermenters and the traditional punch-down method was done to extract color. Before racking and blending, the wine was put in new French oak barrels for 31 months to soften the tannin and ensure the optimal balance of fruit and oak integration. No fining was done and there was as little human interference as possible so that the wine truly expresses both its terroir and the time it has spent in the barrel.
Food Pairing
This wine is perfectly paired with hearty stews and complex, slow cooked foods.
