De Trafford Elevation 2004

Lush blackberry and spicy fruitcake aromas. Dense tannins and intense fruit provide a rich, supple, almost thick texture. Needs time to show hidden complexity. Long finish. This blended wine best reflects the magnificent vineyard site high up on the eastern slopes of the Helderberg mountain. Ideal to serve with rich roast or grilled red meat dishes. An ideal dry, moderately hot summer so the harvest commenced in perfect conditions with ripe, healthy grapes producing big, but well-balanced wines. Handpicked and destemmed with gentle crushing directly into open top fermenters. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation occurred at temperatures of 31°C - 33°C. Nine to eleven days skin contact, punched down 1 – 4 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from traditional basket press. All the De Trafford red wines undergo malolactic fermentation in the barrel. This helps to integrate the new oak and fix colour and flavour compounds. Mostly new French oak used. Time in barrel 21 months, which included several rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation. The wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered, on the estate.