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Wine Description
The Story
Vineyards: Paardeberg (3), Kasteelberg (3), Malmesbury (1), Piquetberg (1). Yield of 18–24hl/ha; avg. vine age: 18 yrs.
Soils: Granite, Slate, Gravel & Sandstone formations
Vinification: Berries are hand sorted. Spontaneous fermentation in open concrete fermenters took 3 weeks at 24°C; Maceration of 3 weeks. No additions are made. Pressed in basket press. Transferred to barrel for malolactic fermentation.
Aging: 1yr on lees in tight-grain French oak, 10% new. Racked into oval casks (foudres) for 1 yr of maturation on the fine lees. After 2 years, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration.
Wine Information
2014 could be overlooked because it came between the explosive 2013 and the very pretty 2015. It developed slowly, but grew in stature & definition and will continue to do so. A tightly knit vintage, as was the case with the 2011, which may have been the best Columella. We can only hope that this will be the next contender. Time will tell.