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Sweet Red
Sourced from a vineyard in the Agter-Paarl, Shiraz was harvested ripe at 27.7 degrees balling. The bunches were destalked and crushed and the juice was fermented until the balling was around 18 degrees. At this time the alcohol content was approximately 4.5%. Fermentation lasted six days, during which time we try to get the maximum extraction and colour from the skins. The wine was pressed off, and was fortified with five year old brandy spirits. The wine was transferred to used French and American oak barrels and matured for approximately 12 months, before blending and bottling.
Winemaker s tasting notes:
Plum and black cherry aromas with liquorice and spice. Lively sweetness on the palate, with a long finish showing sweet brambly fruit.
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La Beryl Rouge
It's the red stablemate of the La Beryl Blanc. In this case, it s shiraz grapes that are handpicked and laid out on straw-lined racks in a shed rigged up with large fans to help air-dry the berries. After about a month the grapes have shrivelled up, leaving raisin-like berries. Only a single barrel of a sweet, intensely flavoured wine is made after a light pressing and natural fermentation in old French oak barrels. The La Beryl Rouge, with its distinctive aromas and flavours of ripe plums and coffee, is made less sweet than the La Beryl Blanc.
Winemaker s tasting notes:
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.
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La Beryl Blanc
The 2009 vintage was dry and warm and this has resulted in a wine of deep concentration. Following the wet conditions in 2008 it was a pleasure to make this wine during a dry harvest period with no threat of rot setting in. Anthony de Jager
Winemaker s tasting notes:
The 2009 shows opulent, tropical fruit on the nose. Ripe pear, red apple and papaya are laced with subtle fragrance and honeysuckle florals. Palate texture is integrated and well rounded, with a lingering silkiness that shows off the fruit. There is a crisp acidity, balancing the wine well and finishing cleanly after along finish.
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Viognier special late harvest
This is a wine that continues to show an interesting side to Viognier which has a lot of potential. I think that it will be at its best after a year or two in the bottle. Anthony de Jager
Winemaker s tasting notes:
Floral honeysuckle abounds on the nose along with fresh grape aromas. The wine has sufficient tannin and body to back up the sweetness and ensure that this is much more than just a simple late harvest. Good length on the finish.
