Elgin Vintners
The Elgin Vintners is a partnership of 6 dedicated grape growers who, believing in the excellence of the Elgin terroir and diversity of their vineyards, have combined their resources to cultivate, produce and market their range of fine quality wines in the Elgin Valley.
The Elgin Valley
The beautiful Elgin Valley is a high inland plateau, completely surrounded by mountains, just 70km from Cape Town, South Africa. It is rapidly gaining a reputation for the production of premium quality wines. This is the home of The Elgin Vintners, publishers of fine wines, a close knit partnership of 6 dedicated wine growers from the Elgin Valley.
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The Elgin Vintners single biggest advantage is the biodiversity of their vineyards, spread over a radius of 12km with an unrivalled spectrum of terroir, soils, aspects, altitudes and meso-climates. Aided by the cool Elgin Valley climate, they strive for vines that are in perfect balance with an ideal crop load-to-leaf ratio, yielding grapes that reach physiological and phenolic ripeness simultaneously. It is the blending of these essential elements that contributes to the fine quality of the wines from this region. Paul Wallace, viticulturist consultant and partner in Elgin Vintners, has over 28 years experience in the wine industry. |
Total Plantings
Total Plantings amongst the Elgin Vintners partners total approx 70 hectares and include the white varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viogner and Rhine Riesling. The red varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Recent plantings will soon come into production and give us greater scope in product range, style and volume.
Vinification
Vinification is outsourced by Elgin Vintners to well known winemakers who have been identified for a particular style, flair and affinity with the variety in question. These include Jeff Grier of Villiera (Sauvignon Blanc), Niels Verburg of Iona/Luddite (Shiraz), Justin Hoy of Highland Road Estate (Cabernet Sauvignon), Winecorp’s Kowie Du Toit and Frans Smit (Merlot) and Clive Torr in association with The Winery of Good Hope (Pinot Noir).
Wines
- Elgin Vintners Red
Agama 2005
Agama is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. Enticing aromas of caramel and spice with layers of plum, blackberries and cassis which carry through on the palate. Coupled with soft velvet tannins and hints of pepper and liquorice on the finish outstanding wine drinks exceptionally well now.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Harvested from two vineyards sites this wine has aromas of bitter dark chocolate and coffee combined with black cherry and mulberry which follow through on the palate. The soft rounded tannins give structure and compliment the fruit resulting in a perfectly balance finish. This wine drinks exceptionally well now but will benefit from a year or two in a bottle.
Shiraz 2007
For the first time a small percentage of viognier was co-fermented with the cool site shiraz grapes. The wine was then matured for 12 months in 90% french oak and 10% american.
The addition of viognier to the fermentation lifts the aromatics on the nose. Sweet cranberries, red berries and hints of white pepper are evident on the nose and palate. The 12 months barrel maturation result in a balanced fruity spice finish. This shiraz has excellent maturation potential.
Merlot 2006
Harvested from two different vineyard sites, this Merlot displays delightful red berry fruits, cassis and violets on the nose with underlying mineral tones. The soft fruit follows onto the palate unfolding raspberries and cherries and touches of chocolate. Supple, well integrated tannins from 11 months maturation in French oak barriques deliver a velvety smooth mouthfeel and finish. This wine will benefit from further bottle maturation.
Pinot Noir 2008
Harvested from carefully managed vineyards, combining gentle cellar practices and 11 months in traditional Burgundian oak barrels (one third new wood) result in an elegant new world Pinot Noir. Displaying beautifully defined red berry fruits, hints of orange peel on the nose and a rounded structure imparted by french oak with a lingering refined finish. Drinking exceptionally now but will also benefit from a few years in the bottle.
- Elgin Vintners White
Sauvignon Blanc 2008
These carefully selected grapes are cool fermented at 12°C to ensure the maximum retention of delicate varietal aromas. The wine has no oak or lees contact allowing these varietal characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc to shine.
A vibrant and fresh nose of tropical fruit, lime and asparagus. Elements of gooseberry and green fig on the palate which compliment the grassy backbone and long elegant finish.
Viognier 2008
Elegance, class and finesse is what this wine is about. Barrel fremented in mostly Romanian Oak with a long, fairly cool fermentation, it then spends a total of 10 months in barrel developing and mellowing those rich viognier characters.
On the nose it displays a combination of ripe stone fruits with floral blossom hints. These intense rich flavours follow through on the palate with a subtleness of oak for a long lingering aftertaste.
Chardonnay 2008
With minimal interference the wine is 100% barrel fermented and carefully matured in small French oak barriques for a period of 9 months.
With inviting lively aromas of fresh citrus and apple blossom on the nose the palate unravels a mineral complexity enhanced by carefully balanced oak subtleties.
Available at:-
The Financial Times (Jancis Robinson)
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