Vondeling, 2007 Erica Shiraz.

An opulent wine packed with juicy ripe fruit interlaced with cloves, sandalwood and black pepper; the finish is elegant and velvety with a hint of spice.

Vineyards: All the Shiraz vines grow in well weathered granite-derived soils on south- or southeast-facing slopes. In total, six clones of Shiraz can be found on the farm and only the best performing clones in each year go into the final blend.

Each clone contributes difference characteristics to the wine and the different blocks are picked at varying degrees of ripeness, best suited to their character. This ensures that the wine is dynamic and of a superior quality. Highly selective hand picking guarantees that only the best fruit arrives at the winery.

Winemaking: After being chilled overnight, the fruit is bunch sorted before being de-stemmed and then berry sorted. No pumps are used and the sorted berries are conveyed directly into open-top tanks. Cold soaking at a low temperature iss applied to prolong the maceration period, and promote gentle tannin and aromatic extraction.

During fermentation, hand plunging is the method of extraction. After fermentation, extended maceration takes place for at least two weeks. All wine is then transferred to barrel, where malolactic fermentation takes place. Only bigger French oak barrels are used, with about one third new and the rest 2nd- and 3rd-fill. The wine is then allowed to mellow for 16 months before final selection and blending. After blending, this superior combination is allowed to integrate in oak for a further 6 months before bottling.

Tasting Note: The growing conditions in 2007 were relatively temperate and as such the wine has a wonderful concentration of flavours and a good measure of fine tannin.

The wine has an inviting nose of ripe red fruit, juice Satsuma plums and sweet blackcurrants. Interlaced with this are hints of spicy cloves and scented sandalwood. Well weighted oak brings its own spiciness, with plenty of black pepper and a hint of charred wood.

The wine has a full, viscous texture and a long velvety finish.