The vineyards are in the high altitude Agterwitzenberg Valley, in apple and pear country. Original plantings were made back in the early 80s from illegal vine material smuggled into the country. Previous buyers of the fruit have been David Finlayson (then of Glen Carlou), Kevin Grant (Ataraxia), Johan Kruger (Sterhuis), Clive Torr, and Carl van der Merwe (De Morgenson).
There has been continual improvements and alterations to the vineyards over the years, and some rows are still planted on their own rootstock, a hugely rare occurrence in South Africa. Current winemaker, Donovan Rall maintains that “This is some of the best fruit I have worked with in South Africa“.
Donovan said the berries from the 2020 harvest were some of the smallest, most intense he has ever worked with. This is a powerful wine, however, because of the cool climate and ripening period, it is not overripe or fat in any way. Donovan naturally fermented it on its lees in used oak (0% new).
This has resulted in a wine with incredible intensity of flavour, colour and structure.
Only 1200 bottles produced.
