What is an auction in Cape Town without a red wine that's up for grabs?! Many thanks for
Durbanville Hills for the magnum
Bastion Carbernet Sauvignon Shiraz which they so kindly donated. For further info about the winery and its wines, please visit
www.durbanvillehills.co.za Bastion Carbernet Sauvignon Shiraz"A full-bodied wine with a soft and velvety mouth-feel and a lingering fruity aftertaste."
Background
Nine leading vineyard owners in the Durbanville district joined together to create Durbanville Hills together with Distell to promote the regional individuality of this prime wine growing area, punctuated by hills. In close proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean, it boasts a temperate climate with Atlantic sea breezes cooling the vines during the summer months. Grapes for this brand, which has already attracted widespread positive attention both in South Africa and abroad, are sourced only from these growers, all of whom fall under the limited appellation of Durbanville. All member vineyards subscribe to IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) growing practices, designed to sustain natural resources. Meticulous crop control applied to these vineyards further limits yields and promotes concentration of varietal flavour, encouraging a process of natural selection. Cellarmaster Martin Moore uses highly advanced cellar technology to ensure optimal extraction of colour and flavour.
Bastion
The oldest surviving building in South Africa is the Castle in Cape Town, built over a 13 year period between 1666 and 1679 to replace the small clay fort of Commander Jan van Riebeeck built in 1652. The pentagonal fortification boasts five bastions from where cross fire could protect the maritime replenishment station and it's Commander, who turned out to be the Cape's first winemaker. The bastions inspired the architects that designed Durbanville Hills Winery to supply the cellar with our very own bastion ensuring an outlook point over Table Bay with magnificent Table Mountain on the one side and Robben Island on the other.
The vineyards (Vineyard Consultant: Johan Pienaar)
The unique character of this wine lies in the influence of thedifferent vineyards from which the grapes were sourced. The grapes wereselected from various north-east facing, low-yield vineyards, mostlylocated around 250 m above sea level and grown in deep red soils withgood water retention properties. The Cabernet Sauvignon was sourcedfrom the centre valley's medium high slopes whilst the Shiraz block ison a slightly higher location where the wind helps to control thevigorous growth so typical of this variety.
The winemaking
The unique character of this wine lies in the influence of the different vineyards from which the grapes were sourced. The grapes were selected from various north-east facing, low-yield vineyards, mostly located around 250 m above sea level and grown in deep red soils with good water retention properties. The Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the centre valley's medium high slopes whilst the Shiraz block is on a slightly higher location where the wind helps to control the vigorous growth so typical of this variety.
Winemaker
Martin Moore and Wilhelm Coetzee
Colour
Ruby red.
Nose
Berries and prunes with spicy undertones.
Taste
A full-bodied wine with a soft and velvety mouth-feel and a lingering fruity aftertaste.
Food pairing
An ideal companion to robust dishes such as game poultry, venison and red meats.
Alcohol 13.57%
Residual sugar 2.7 g/l
Total acidity 6.3 g/l
pH 3.58
Extract 29.0 g/l