Bellevue Estate Shiraz
Stellenbosch’s Bottelary ward is known for producing Shiraz with
phenolic sweetness balanced by fresh acidity, and this wine is a
great example: velvety yet vibrant, combining ripe fruit with
hints of mocha, spice and woodsmoke
TASTING NOTE
Smoky and spicy with sour-sweet cherry and raspberry fruit, layered with savoury
charcuterie undertones and a pinch of white pepper. Not a robust blockbuster but
elegantly restrained. Delicious with lean venison or ostrich.
IN THE VINEYARD
From a trellised, dryland vineyard.
IN THE CELLAR
The grapes were cold soaked prior to inoculation. The wine fermented for about
four days, with pump-overs three times daily. After completing malolactic
fermentation in tank, the wine was matured in French and American oak barrels.
Pinotage was cultivated by Prof A.I. Perold around 1925 when he crossed Cinsault and Pinot noir. The first Pinotage cuttings made their way onto Bellevue soil in the early 1950’s when P.K. Morkel was attempting to obtain Gamay Noir for planting. He was not able to find the cultivar he was looking for and approached the Agricultural College at Elsenburg.
He was advised to try the newly developed variety, called Pinotage. At that stage, there were no commercial plantings of this variety, only experimental vines cultivated by the college. In 1953, together with Paul Sauer from Kanonkop, P.K. Morkel was one of the first few farmers to plant Pinotage on a commercial scale. His bold step paid off, since Bellevue’s Pinotage was awarded the Genl. Smuts Trophy in 1959, being the best young wine on the Cape Wine Show.
To salute the vision and bravery of P.K. Morkel, Bellevue takes utmost care of the 1953 Pinotage block which is still in production. It remains the pride and joy of Bellevue and a very special wine is made from this block, called Bellevue Heritage Pinotage.
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Bellevue Estate Shiraz
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