Jacobsdal Pinotage, Stellenbosch

Description

Jacobsdal Pinotage is a traditional Pinotage made by current owner and winemaker Cornelis Dumas, assisted by his son Hannes, at this fantastic Stellenbosch Estate.

The Jacobsdal Estate is situated between Stellenbosch and Kuils River, on the slopes of the hills overlooking False Bay, which is less than 10 kilometres away. The estate lies on the extreme southwesterly edge of the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin Region. The Dumas family has been making wine on the estate for three generations and the present owner and winemaker is Cornelis Dumas assisted by his son Hannes. There is good drainage and water-retention at Jacobsdal which makes it possible to produce quality grapes – small berries with an intense concentration of flavour – under dryland conditions. None of the vines are irrigated. The vineyard rows lie in line with the direction of the prevailing summer wind, the south-easter, which not only cools down the vineyards but also keeps the vines healthy reducing crop-spraying to the minimum. Only natural yeasts from the skin of the grapes are used for the fermentation in open top concrete vats. Researchers believe a unique yeast strain has developed in the vineyards and in the cellar which imparts a broad spectrum of desirable characteristics to the must. During fermentation the cap of the skins is punched through regularly with long wooden poles to extract optimal colour, flavour and tannins.

Jacobsdal Pinotage is matured in small casks of French oak for 12 to 18 months, and is allowed to settle in the bottle before being released.