Spice Route Distils the Essence of the Swartland in Terra de Bron Single Vineyard Series. Spice Route Wines is proud to announce the release of three Terra de Bron single vineyard wines.
After 15 years of growing grapes and making wines on Klein Amoskuil farm near Malmesbury in the Swartland, it has become apparent to the Spice Route team that a handful of vines consistently reflect a clear sense of place.
While Klein Amoskuil comprises a patchwork of different soils, only a quarter of the four hundred hectares of land is planted under vine. The chosen pockets of deep, decomposed granite and clay soils (ferricrete) are the most viable for producing balanced and complex wines in dryland conditions.
The single-vineyard series is named after ‘De Bron’ – the old Dutch nickname for the town of Malmesbury. Meaning ‘Spring’, ‘Bron’ refers to the town’s natural spring, which attracted people from the Cape to the warm dry air of the Swartland.
IN THE VINEYARD
Known predominantly for its Sauvignon Blanc which faces the cold Atlantic, there are a handful of Syrah vineyards planted on the warmer West and North-facing slopes of the hill, where one has a view of both the ocean to the West and the Swartland to the East. Planted on deep homogeneous soils of clay and decomposed granite soils called Oakleaf, this dry land vineyard is trellised and benefits from the cooler marine breeze.
HARVEST DATE: 27 February 2012
WINEMAKING
The few rows of vineyard selected for this wine were hand-harvested and transported in small lug boxes for further sorting at the Klein Amoskuil cellar. The grapes were fermented in a single 2-ton open concrete fermenter; during which time the skins were manually punch down twice a day. After fermentation the wine was racked off to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. The wine was matured for 21 months in French barrels, of which 85% were old.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS
“This is our maiden Darling Syrah and a very exciting project. The cool slope of Darling produces very unique fruit, together with slow ripening and ideal growing conditions – This makes for an exceptional wine. – Enjoy! – Charl du Plessis
TASTING NOTE
The profile of this wine is already perceptible when tasting the thin-skinned berry in the vineyard. Black pepper, violet and red fruit perfume the nose, accompanied by an elegant spice on the palate.