８１４：ワインのお勉強

第１回目の赴任時にはワインを堪能したが、２回目は１本も飲まなかった。今回は、気まぐれだが赤ワインを買った。ワイン選びは素人なので適当に銘柄やラベルの感じで。

食料品店は欧米人向けで、店主はイギリス系。彼が僕の選んだワインを見て一言。

これが絶品。僕はこれしか飲まない。生真面目そうなおじさんだと前から見ていたし、嘘ではないんだろうね。

今、風呂上がりに飲んでいる。確かに口当たりが素晴らしい。滑らかだし、くせがない。そこでネットで調べてちょっとお勉強。南アのワインとしては国際的に一番有名らしい。

Cathedral Cellar:

Cabernet Sauvignon

VINTAGE: 2008

WINE OF ORIGIN: Western Cape

VINEYARDS: The grapes for this wine come predominantly from the Stellenbosch region and the individual vineyards were selected based on their consistent quality over many vintages. KWV works closely with each of the vineyard managers to ensure that the desired balance between the soil, vine canopy and yield is achieved. Further to achieving balanced vines, our viticulturists aim to achieve the desired levels of sunlight into the vine canopy in order to ensure flavour and phenolic development.

YIELD (t/ha): 5 t/ha

VINTAGE CONDITIONS: Cool, wet weather during the 2007 winter and first two months of 2008 led to a later than usual start to the 2008 harvest. This resulted in slow ripening conditions with small berries, concentrated flavours and slow sugar and phenolic development. It also led to an ideal distribution between red and white grapes being harvested, allowing winemakers the time to optimally attend to their wines. This is expected to be an excellent vintage.

HARVEST DATE: Middle of February to end of March.

WINE MAKING Grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness. After destemming, the grapes were cold soaked for 4 days to extract more fruit and enhance colour. After this period the wine was inoculated with specially selected yeast strains and fermented for 7 days until dry. Free run juice was racked to barrel where it underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was then racked from the lees and returned to the barrel for maturation.

WINE DESCRIPTION: Ruby red and full bodied, the wine delivers upfront berries, eucalyptus and cooked beetroot. The aroma carries beautifully to the palate, layered with spice, subtle toffee and violets. This well balanced wine is velvety smooth with a flavourful aftertaste.

MATURATION: New 300 litre French oak barrels for 16 months.

TOTAL VINTAGE PRODUCTION: 75 000 litres

BOTTLING DATE 9 February 2010

SERVING SUGGESTION: Enjoy on its own or with beef and game roasts with rich flavourful sauces.

CELLARING POTENTIAL This wine can be enjoyed immediately or cellared for up to 6 - 8 years.

WINE ANALYSIS
Alcohol % vol: 14.24
Label alcohol % vol: 14.00
pH: 3.43
Total acidity g/l: 6.26
Residual sugar g/l: 2.85

WINEMAKERS COMMENT More attention is given to this brand from vintage to vintage. Our focus is on maturation to produce fresher, more elegant wines that display typical varietal characteristics.

買ったの２００７年。でも、うまい。お肉はないけれど。

成城石井やデパ地下が恋しい。ここのレストランはどこも情けない。ナイロビにだって、タマリンドやノーフォークホテルがあるのにね！！