Carl Schultz
Two exceptional wines, a unique Shiraz and a single vineyard Merlot, crafted by highly acclaimed Hartenberg winemaker Carl Schultz, are amongst the deck of 52 wines to go under the hammer at the 28th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at Spier outside Stellenbosch on Saturday, 6 October.
The Hartenberg Auction Shiraz 2009 is the 10th Hartenberg Shiraz vintage to be included in the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction line-up and made its auction debut last year. It is a worthy successor to the iconic Hartenberg flagship, Gravel Hill Shiraz, which until the 2004 vintage had been produced exclusively for the auction.
“The Hartenberg Auction Shiraz 2009, which follows the nine Gravel Hill vintages on auction, combines two unique and contrasting places of origin.
The best single barrel of our deep clay-rich Stork Shiraz vineyard was blended with two barrels of the stony Gravel Hill vineyard. The former lends richness and power, whilst the latter provides elegance, finesse and longevity,” says Carl whose The Stork Shiraz 2008 clinched first place in the Top 10 ranking of the 2012 Syrah du Monde competition in France earlier this year.
The Hartenberg Auction Shiraz 2009 spent 22 months in new French oak barriques. The wine impresses with white pepper and truffle notes on the bouquet opening up to violets and black fruit, whilst the palate shows beautiful elegance and poise with silky, polished tannins and a dry, savoury finish.
As one of South Africa’s oldest Shiraz producing estates, Hartenberg Shiraz enjoys an unmatched reputation for high-end quality and above all, consistency with a track record spanning nearly 40 years. The ability to age gracefully is a common thread that runs through all 38 Shiraz vintages produced to date at Hartenberg with many of the older wines still drinking well after 20 and 30 years. The second Hartenberg Guild Auction wine is the Hartenberg Loam Hill Merlot 2009.
As a former Diner’s Club Merlot Winemaker of the Year, Carl certainly has the edge when it comes to crafting a wine from this temperamental varietal. This Merlot, is a single vineyard wine that Carl describes as representing “the best of what we do.” and is one of only two Merlots in the Guild Auction line-up this year. “This wine represents the best of the vintage from the estate modelled on the wines of right-bank Bordeaux,” is his take on the wine, which spent 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
The wine has intense aromas of mocha, plums and spices, with a rich palate of opulent fruit with supple, sweet flavours. Fine, dry tannins allow further ageing.
Recognised as South Africa’s leading wine auction open to the wine trade and the general public, the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild Auction features rare wines crafted exclusively for the auction to represent the pinnacle of what can be achieved in South African winemaking.
Local wine enthusiasts can taste the auction wines at the Final Pre-auction Tasting at Spier in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Friday, 5 October 2012.
The 28th Nedbank CWG Auction is open to the public and will be held at the Spier Conference Centre on Saturday, 6 October 2012. Prospective buyers who are unable to attend the auction on the day, can take advantage of the Guild’s telephonic and proxy bidding facilities or register with www.the-saleroom.com to bid online in real time on the day of the auction.
For further details and to attend the Auction, visit Cape Winemakers Guild or contact the Guild Office on Phone: 021 852 0408 or info@capewinemakersguild.com.
Hartenberg Wine Estate is situated on the Bottelary Road (M23) off the R304 to Stellenbosch.
For bookings, call Tel: (+27)21-8652541, Email: info@hartenbergestate.com or visit Hartenberg Estate.
