Zorgvliet Richelle 2017
South Africa, Banghoek
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Description
The Richelle is a wine created to embody "completeness". The aim is to also showcase the unique terroir of the Banghoek Valley by producing a wine with finesse that has a core of fruit, that is full structured but with the elegance becoming of a wine made in a cool area. It is not meant to be the boldest, most expressive, intense and flamboyant wine in our lineup. We blend our best batches to create a wine that is in harmony with itself. This 2017 Richelle is rich and brooding, with dark fruits and herbs on the nose. The palate is elegantly crafted with a seamless structure and a lengthy finish.
Awards
4.5 stars Platter's South African Wine Guide
Alcohol
14.5%
Analytical data
dry
Vinification
Grapes were harvested by hand and berry sorted into stainless steel fermenters. Fermentation commenced spontaneously and was finished with a pure strain. Extraction was done with a combination of punch-down, rack-and-return and pump-over methods. Batches were gently pressed and immediately racked to small French oak barrels where they completed malolactic fermentation. The components were racked three times to clarify and develop the wines. Blending took place after 14 month aging, after which the composed blend was aged in barrel for another 4 months. The wine was bottled after a total of 18 months.
Vineyard: Decomposed granite and sandstone. Mostly south and east facing vineyards. Cool sub-region of Stellenbosch.
The vineyards are located in the Banghoek Valley, Stellenbosch. Elevation is 300-350m above sea level and is mostly southerly facing. This provides for moderate temperatures resulting in late but slow ripening of fruit.
Soil Type
The soils are made up of leached, decomposed granite and sandstone. Gravel in the upper layers provides for good drainage in wet seasons and clay in the subsoil provides moisture retention in dry ones.
Viticulture
The vineyards are located in the Banghoek Valley, Stellenbosch. Elevation is 300-350m above sea level and is mostly southerly facing. This provides for moderate temperatures resulting in late but slow ripening of fruit. The soils are made up of leached, decomposed granite and sandstone. Gravel in the upper layers provides for good drainage in wet seasons and clay in the subsoil provides moisture retention in dry ones. Vineyards are trained on a 7 wire hedge and cane pruned by hand. Average yield is 5-8tons/ha.
Maturation
Blending took place after 14 month aging, after which the composed blend was aged in barrel for another 4 months. The wine was bottled after a total of 18 months.
