Produced in very small volumes, this wine is the red stablemate of the La Beryl Blanc. This straw wine is produced using the traditional vin de paille method and shows intense, concentrated flavours and opulence.
IN THE VINEYARD:
Shiraz grapes were harvested ripe at 24 degrees balling and gently placed into small lug boxes. All of the fruit was from a trellised vineyard on the Fairview farm in Paarl, which is planted on decomposed granite soils.
HARVEST DATES:
Late February 2007
WINEMAKING:
The grapes were harvested and carefully transported to a shed on the farm, where they were laid out on racks covered with beds of straw. The bunches were left to dry for three weeks on the straw. As they dried, the flavours and sugar were concentrated and the balling of the grapes went up to 36 degrees. The grapes were then destalked and transferred to older barrels for fermentation to start on the skins. Skin contact was allowed for three days. During this time, the cap was worked through three times a day to promote extraction of colour and flavour. The pulp is always too thick and sticky to punch down and is mixed by hand. After three days the juice was pressed off and sent back to barrels to complete fermentation, which lasted approximately four months. The wine is then racked off and matured in old barrels for a further nine months prior to being bottled.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:
I have been making this wine in small quantities over the last few years and I think that this is the best vintage so far. The fermentation on the skins adds tannin which helps to balance the sweetness. This wine shows deep concentrated flavours and highlights another, interesting side to Shiraz. Anthony de Jager
TASTING NOTE:
Dark, almost black colour. The wine is concentrated and rich, with aromas of cloves, aniseed and blackcurrant, which follow through on the palate. Although opulently sweet, there is good balance and the wine has a pleasing finish.
WINE ANALYSIS:
Wine of Origin Paarl
Alcohol 13.67
Residual sugar 139.4 g/l
Total acid 6.6 g/l
pH 3.8
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Elsa van Dyk says:
Were will I be able to get hold of these wines?
chris says:
Hi there,
Unfortunately this wine is currently sold out at the farm and the 2010 vintage is still fermenting! It is a long, slow fermentation due to the high sugar levels. The La Beryl Rouge is made in a very small quantity, and is usual available primarily from the Fairview farm. When it is released it will also be on our online sales site at http://www.onlinewines.co.za