www.hartenbergestate.com
SYRAH DU MONDE FRANCE 2012 – 1ST PLACE GOLD MEDAL
One of three Shirazes presently made at the Estate, this limited volume wine represents a vineyard selection of Shiraz from a specific site that is planted solely on clay –rich, deep, red soils – (“terra rossa –type”) – on the south eastern portion of the Estate. These soils are of decomposed Table Mountain Sandstone origin and have a very fine texture. (The vineyard ripens a full month later than our Gravel Hill site. This later ripening is due to the soils greater depth (i.e. cooler soils) and the site itself being a little cooler. The flavour characteristics of the wine have black fruit, violets and cherries dominant (against the pepper and spicy minerality of the Gravel Hill.)
The grapes for the 2008 Stork were hand-picked on March 20th, the bunches were de-stemmed and 20% of the juice was drawn off. The mash was cold soaked for three days. Rhone-sourced yeast was inoculated. Fermentation took place at 24 -28° Celsius. Fermentation and the consequent maceration on the skins took a total of fifteen days. The wine went to barrel to complete malolactic fermentation.
AVERAGE SUGAR AT PICKING
25.8° Balling
In the lead-up to picking, the fruit was tasted twice daily and the decision to pick was made by tasting.
YIELD 5.9 tonnes per hectare
OAK MATURATION 100% New French oak (all 225 litre)
TIME IN OAK 21 months
BOTTLING DATE November 2009
RELEASE DATE September 2012
RECOMMENDED MATURATION Five to Fifteen (for the patient) years from vintage.
ANALYSIS
Alcohol 14.54 % by volume
Residual Sugar 2.1 g/l
Total Acid 5.58g/l
pH 3.55
The Stork Shiraz honours the late Ken Mackenzie, pilot, businessman, farmer and benefactor. Stork was Ken’s Second World War nickname (as he was a Spitfire pilot and was also tall, with long thin legs) Hartenberg Shiraz also happened to be his tipple of choice.
A footnote: Shiraz has been grown successfully at the Estate since the 1960’s when it was originally released under the Montagne and Bertram’s labels. The Hartenberg name was launched with the 1978 vintage, but Shiraz has always been the variety synonymous with the property over the years.
2003 vintage: Veritas 2006 Double Gold/Steve Tanzer 91 points
2004 vintage: IWSC Gold Medal
2005 vintage: SAA Red Wine Trophy / Syrah du Monde 2008 Gold
2007 vintage: Robert Parker 90 points/5 Stars Vic Harrington, Canada / Wine Pioneers 92 points
