Donovan Rall Vuurberg Red 2018

A ripe and intriguing nose of wild berries, blackberry compote, graphite and tobacco. These delights follow through onto a palate with layers of dark black fruits, brown spice and subtle oak. The freshness of the Petit Verdot complements the richness of the Cabernet and Cinsault, creating a wine of concentration and structure with the potential to evolve beautifully over the next 10 years. After decanting the wine evolves nicely, showing notes of crushed-rock minerality amongst the layered and complex fruit.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cinsault

Food Match: A braai of course! Good steak, bashed and barbecued with a sprinkling of rock salt and grilled veg

The wine is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cinsault from estate-grown fruit. The grapes are picked as early as possible and rushed to the cellar where it is not crushed only destemmed, hand sorted and transferred to tank. Fermentation occurs naturally without the addition of any yeasts after a cold soak of about 3 to 5 days. As soon as fermentation starts the grapes are given soft pigeage twice daily during the first week and then once every few days just to keep the cap wet. When the desired extraction is achieved the wine gets drained and pressed in a tiny hand operated basket press and transferred into 225l french oak barrels of which 50% new for 22 months before bottling unfined and with only a light filtration.