VONDELING Philosophie Red Blend 2016 13,5%

495,00  m/Moms
( 396,00  u/Moms )

Merlot 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%, Cabernet Franc 13%, Malbec 12%

Priser:

2021 Platter Guide - 4.5 Stars (94 Points)

Anbefales af London Sunday Times vin anmelder Jane MacQuitty (MW), som beskriver denne top vin således: Thriling top-drawer Bordeaux-aping Cape red from Paarl with beguiling savoury, sandalwood-scented fruti..

Vinhuset skriver om denne specielle vin: 

LIMITED RELEASE
Philosophie is a brave endeavour in which we attempt to marry the mind, the heart and the soil as we celebrate the diversity of Vondeling.

A deep but vibrant, scarlet red colour. A wonderfully expressive and enthusiastic nose. Bursting with brightred cherry and high floral notes. Beautifully laced with sweet vanilla and subtle wood shavings. The palate is precise and bold with delightful tension. Ripe raspberry and cinnamon lead with underlyinglayers of trimmed cigar and fine tannin.



Model/varenr.: VON114-16
Type/Farve: Rødvin
Land: Sydafrika
Vinhus: Vondeling

THE STORY BEHIND THE LABEL
Each year a celebrated artist is recruited to illustrate a rare Paardeberg flower in the medium of their choice. This unique rendition is placed on a numbered selection of Vondeling’s finest bottles to create a series of collectable and rare wines. A wonderfully bright and vibrant vintage, captured beautifully in screenprint by artist, jane Stothert. This year Oxalistenuifolia, commonly known as thin leaf sorrel, was selected to representthe spirit of this enchanting wine.

VINEYARDS
In a handful of specific vineyards, we explore the absolute limits of quality with no consideration to cost. 2016 is a unique vintage with Merlot as thed ominant grape. Located above our chosen Cabernet Sauvignon, this tiny parcel of vines, only 7 short rows, produced something extraordinary. The ruit purity and intensity could not be overlooked and needed to be celebrated. No to break with tradition the Merlot is complimented handsomely by fellow Bordeaux companions, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Each vineyard is carefully assessed at the end of the growing season anda ttentively pruned during the winter months. At bud burst, any shoots which develop poorly are immediately removed. This ensures that there maining shoots have plenty of energy to grow sturdy, fertile flowers and facilitate a uniform berry set. As the grapes develop only one bunch per cane is selected and the rest are dropped to the ground. This lowers the load on the vine, thereby removing any stress in the plant and allowing perfect flavour and tannin development. It also diminishes any need for irrigation and helps preserve the grape’s natural acidity.

VINIFICATION
Once deemed to have reached optimal ripeness the grapes are hand-picked and refrigerated for 24hrs. The bunches are carefully destemmed,but not crushed and the berries are individually sorted to remove anygreen material. The berries are not pumped, but ferried, via conveyor toopen-top fermenters.

Cold soaking is done at 6 degrees Celsius for a period of 5 days. Cold soaking is a process that allows onlypartial degradation of the grape cell wall, to gently extract the fruit flavours and aromatics situated below thesurface of the skin. Subtle tannin extraction protects these delicate flavours and promotes colour stability. As the berries slowly come to room temperature, ambient  yeasts commence with spontaneous fermentation. This natural fermentation by multiple yeast strains, is preferable, as it will ensure that the wine has complexityand character. A cool fermentation temperature slows the rate of fermentation and affords the winemaker adequate time to assess and manipulate the character of the wine, thus unlocking its full potential. Full extraction is ensured by regular punch downs after three weeks of maceration the skins are gently pressed in a traditional basket press. From the press, the wine moves directly to 300L French Oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. This slow bacterial degradation of the wine’s harsher acidity has the welcome sideeffect of meshing the oak and natural fruit flavours into a seamless package. Two-thirds of the barrels are new.

The wine remains on its yeast and malolactic lees for 14 months before the best 10 barrels are selected, blended and returned for an additional 8 months of maturation. Of these 10 barrels, only 5 are selected for the final blend. The wine is bottled after 3 months in tank and bottle matured for at least two years before release