This is the story of two brothers, Stephan and Retief du Toit, co-owners of the Le Present farm on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Klapmuts, and their Deux Frères Wines.

In 2008 Stephan and Retief decided to plant four varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot to make up a Bordeaux blend, as well as Shiraz and Mourvèdre to make a Rhone styled blend. After their first harvest they decided to plant a small block of Malbec which they added into their Bordeaux blend, and also expanded with Mourvèdre to make a Provence styled Rosé.

Stephan and two farm assistants, Niklaas and Seppi, planted 9,480 vines on a 2.2ha area all by themselves which today is all hand reared. The wines produced are showing great potential and the vineyards are doing very well. Stephan and his team put great effort into working the vineyards as organic or biodynamic as possible.

Le Present produces wines under the label Deux Frères, which means “two brothers” for both the local and international market. Stephan believes that the export market gives the smaller Boutique Winemaker better exposure to boutique labels internationally than in South Africa.

The Winemaker

Stephan du Toit started at L’Avenir as an assistant winemaker under the guidance of Francois Naude in 2000 and worked with him for five years.  When Francois retired in 2005 he stayed on for a year working under the new owner, Michelle Laroche from France.

The following year he was employed at Marianne Wine Estate and worked with Christian Doriac, owner of three cellars in France. Stephan was very fortunate to experience a harvest in St-Émilion, and spent three months working in two Chateaus in St-Émilion and one in the Pomorol area of France. To Stephan, moving away from the massive flavours and bold alcohols found in South African wines, and getting use to the French wines, more delicate, and layered in flavour, opens a whole new world to one’s taste buds.

Tasting a wine that is more approachable, with structure, and which opens up and evolves, is absolutely fantastic Рthat is what Deux Fr̬res Wines is all about, an exhilarating wine experience produced by two brothers.

Stephan studied Viticulture at Elsenburg, but never engaged in the formal training of winemaking. Most of Stephan’s winemaking knowledge and experience in chemistry he acquired while working under Francois Naude. His ultimate goal is to create wine that blends in with consumer requirements.

Cultivars

Libert̩, 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon РPetit Verdot: These are low yielding vines of 5-6 tons per hectare which were hand-picked in the early hours of the morning to ensure freshness and quality. With optimally ripe grapes the wines were fermented in open stainless steel fermenters with regular and rigorous punch-downs during fermentation. After fermentation the wines were aged for eighteen months in small French barriques.
The wine has a deep ruby and purple colour which derives mostly from the Petit Verdot. Classic Cabernet aromas of black cherry, current, kirsch and tobacco stands out on the nose. On the palate the Petit Verdot gives backbone to the Cabernet with flavours of cocoa and coffee.

Stephan says, “The wine is packed with dark fruit flavours with subtle tannin for a long lingering finish. If I had to do it again I would change nothing.”

The Libert̩, 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon РPetit Verdot was awarded a Silver Medal at Veritas Awards in 2013; a Silver Medal at Decanter World Wine Awards in 2014, and received a Silver Medal at Veritas Awards in 2014.
Fraternit̩, 2012 Shiraz РMourv̬dre: These grapes are hand-picked in 20kg lug boxes to ensure the fruit stays at its best for the cellar. The grapes are destalked and pumped to stainless steel fermenters using punch down techniques for flavour and colour extraction. Thereafter it is aged in a selection of 225L barriques.

“From the first time the Shiraz and Mourvèdre was produced it maintained a good enough quality to put under the farm’s label. A challenging growing season with warm spells made it very tricky to decide on a harvest date. A beautiful blend showing each cultivar’s own characteristics – black fruits and spice from the Shiraz and red berry fruit from the Mourvèdre. Easy drinking with low 13.5% alcohol,” says Stephan.

The Fraternité, 2012 Shiraz – Mourvèdre was awarded 4 Stars in the Platter’s Wine Guide of 2014; a Silver Medal at Decanter World Wine Awards in 2014, and also received a Silver Medal at Veritas Awards in 2014.

Blanc de Noir – 2013: The Blanc de Noir grapes were destalked, crushed and moved directly to the basket press. During pressing, continuous tasting occurred while Stephan keeps a close eye on the colour of the juice.

After settling, the juice is cold fermented in a tank. After fermentation the wine was left on its lees for 3 weeks – then prepared for bottling.

Stephan continues, “The process of making a Blanc de Noir differs quite a lot from that of Rosé wines, and by using a varietal such as Mourvèdre, the colour of the wine is truly unique. A pale salmon/coral pink, sweet red fruits from the Mourvèdre makes this wine a delight to drink. The wine is dry and carries bold flavours that gives it dimension with or without a meal, and should be serve well chilled.”

Take time out, sit back and relax with a glass of Deux Frères Fraternité, 2012 Shiraz Mourvèdre and you will appreciate this classic, well respected wine that could never be excluded from its rightful position among Wine Connoisseurs.

The Liberté, 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon – Petit Verdot is reviewed by The Newspaper as yet another of Stephan’s remarkable achievements in blending these two cultivars. Even the Blanc de Noir took us by surprise.

Deux Frères is a Boutique Winery that will most definitely take the connoisseur wine drinker by surprise.

For more information visit www.dfwines.co.za

email [email protected] alternatively contact Stephan du Toit at 082 371 4770  

[Category: Breaking News, Stellenbosch, Wine, Wine Maker of The Month, Boutique Winery, Boutique Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Klapmuts, Le Present farm, Stephan du Toit, Wine Farm]