Shannon VineyardsElgin Pinot Noir 2018 (R99.83 per bottle, 6 bottles)
R599
About
This is frighteningly good! If you're a fan of Pinot Noir, have friends that you know like Pinot Noir or simply need an introduction to the grape but don't feel like spending R250+ on a bottle of wine then don't wait any longer, this is the one. Shannon Vineyards is situated in the Elgin Valley within the Kogelberg Biosphere with mountains on our western boundary and the Peninsula Dam forming the eastern boundary. The Elgin Valley which has long been regarded as the apple and pear centre of South Africa now has some of the country's most highly regarded winemakers establishing vineyards in the area, testament to its obvious winemaking potential.
Styling
Considerable emphasis is placed on vineyard site selection and identification, within the variations of three basic components of the soil: clay, sand, and stone. These are expressed in a range of flavours from vibrant raspberry, strawberry, currant and cherry. We respect the power and elegance delivered in this beautiful expression of a balanced bright red to darker berried flavour spectrum, delivered by the final blend of 50% older Dijon clones PN 115 to the 50% newer Dijon clone PN 667, in this Shannon Pinot Noir
Technical analysis
The Pinot Noir bunches are chilled to 3ºC before being sorted on a conveyor and de-stemmed. Berries are then hand sorted before cold maceration ensues for 3 to 6 days at 8ºC. Slower fermenting cultured yeasts are used for some of the fermentations while ± 80% of the blend is naturally/wild fermented. Fermentation temperatures vary between 26 - 30ºC, depending on the nature of the sites. After pressing, the wine is racked and left to complete its malolactic fermentation and maturation in oak barriques
- Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
- Alcohol: 13.41 %
- Acidity; 5.0 g/l
- pH: 3.46
- Residual sugar: 3.4 g/l
- Clone Selection:
- # 18 VINEYARD PN 115: 50%
- # 18 VINEYARD PN 667: 50%
Maturation
100% matured in barriques (228L) for approximately 11 months using a blend of 3 cooperages. The oak used is of a tighter grain and medium toasted. New oak - 10%, 2nd fill - 50%, 3rd fill - 40%.
Writer's block
Ours is about 3 feet by 3 feet, and on our left is the account's block. The marketing block is down the hall.
We're joking. Obviously.
Ours is at least 5 by 5, and on Wednesdays we're allowed to write in coffee shops to maintain the illusion that we're "successful" and "writerly".
Coming up with a write up for the simple sake of a write up does, however, become difficult when we're staring complete lack of creativity right in the face. But apparently asking management to cancel all the deals for the day isn't a viable fix.
As they so delicately put it, it'd be like a comedian having the option to suddenly cancel a show if they're not feeling up to it. Not on our watch, they said. You'll do a write up whether you like it or not, they said. And be funny, they said.
So here we are, doing a write up and being funny.