Meinert Sémillon Straw Wine 2015

Meinert Sémillon Straw Wine 2015 |375 ml|

Winemaking

When the grapes are just shy of optimal ripeness, typically around 23º Balling, we pinch every bunch stalk using a pair of long-nose pliers, this in turn restricting sap flow to the berries. The bunches hang and desiccate on the vines for a further 6 – 8 weeks, concentrating not only sugars and flavours, but also fruit acids, to ensure freshness on the finish. Bunches were selectively harvested from the 21^st March. The bunches are whole-bunch pressed over an incredibly long pressing cycle, to ensure all the sugary richness is extracted. A portion of the pressed juice is then returned to the raisined berries to soak and dissolve crystallised sugars. Natural fermentation in four barrels, 50% new.

Tasting Notes

This wine shows a fresh straw gold color and delivers enticing aromas of honey, pineapple, apricot jam, and poached pear. The palate is sweet yet balanced by bright acidity, offering luscious layers of quince jelly, marmalade, and a hint of saffron spice. The finish is long and tangy, perfectly balancing richness with freshness. The secret of sweet wines is matching the sugar and acid so that the wine is not cloying.

Analysis

Alcohol: 12.0 %
Residual Sugar: 150 g/l
Total Acidity: 7.4 g/l
pH: 3.48
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch

Vineyards

In 2008 we planted our only white grape vineyard on Devon Crest, 3459 Semillon vines. In 2014 these yielded 1839 kg of vine-dried grapes or about ½ kg per vine – a huge crop considering we got only 444 kg in 2013.

Production: 1600 bottles of 375ml.