Technical Tasting Sheet:
The De Grendel Shiraz will marry exceptionally well with pork neck steaks served with a cranberry reduction, a traditional glazed gammon and, in particular, with game and venison cuts during the colder winter months.
The 2015 vintage will be remembered for its very dry and windy conditions during flowering, which resulted in a 15% smaller crop in the coastal region. As a result of this, the harvest was 10 to 15 days earlier than normal, the vineyard growth was less, and the bunches were smaller. These conditions, however, produced berries with a much higher concentration of fruit flavours and the red varietals had better colour intensity. Taking all of this in consideration, the 2015 vintage has the potential to be one of the finest vintages in recent years. In fact, our Cellar Master Charles Hopkins predicts that the 2015 Shiraz is the best Shiraz that De Grendel has produced in 12 years.
The fruit was carefully handpicked in 3 batches, with the first batch ripening in Paarl. It was open tank fermented at De Grendel using the more delicate aerated pump over method to ensure softer tannins, delicate spicy flavours and deep colour. Roughly 2 weeks later, the second and third batches from Firgrove were separately open fermented using the pneumatic punch down method where the fermenting cap was punched down 4 times a day and night to produce more robust tannins with excellent structure and concentration. The 3 portions were then blended and allowed to undergo natural malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks before being racked 3 times and transferred into oak barrels for 13 months of maturation with 10% in new American oak, 10% in new French oak and the remaining 80% in 2nd and 3rd fill barrels.
2015
- China Wine & Spirits Awards 2017 Gold
- Mundus Vini Germany 2017 Gold
- Veritas Awards 2016 Double Gold
- Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2016 Platinum
- Vitis Vinifera Awards 2016 Trophy