Pinotage - Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Pinotage

Through blending the different terroirs a subtle and stylish wine were created. The wine shows a deep red colour with intense plum, violets, mulberry and black fruit flavours. Maturation in third and fourth fill French oak barrels added a soft complexity with well integrated firm tannins. Subtle and stylish with a hint of spiciness which originated from the cool climate grapes.

Viticulture:
The grapes were harvested from two blocks with Scali soils in the Stellenbosch and Durbanville regions. Picking took place early in the morning at sugar levels of 24 - 25ºB with optimum ripeness to bring out only the soft, ripe tannins of Pinotage grapes. The crop varied between 6 – 9 tons per hectare from bush vine and trellised grapes. The crop was selected on hand sorting tables prior to crushing.

Vinification:
After picking, the grapes underwent 3 - 6 days of cold maceration in the tanks. After inoculation with selected yeasts, the juice was regularly pumped over for colour and varietal fruit extraction. 30% Of the grapes were fermented in open cement tanks and traditionally punched down for optimum phenol complexity. Fermenting dry, 100% of the blend went through malolactic fermentation in third and fourth fill French oak barrels, where the wine remained for 12 months.