Neethlingshof Estate The Caracal

Description

Neethlingshof Estate The Caracal is a South African red wine blend and, alongside The Owl Post, The Six Flowers and Maria Noble Late Harvest, forms part of Neethlingshof’s Short Story Collection.

Neethlingshof Estate is located in the heart of the Stellenbosch wine-growing region flanked by the Bottelary Hills and Papegaaisberg Mountains. The estate takes its name from its 19th century owner, Marthinus Laurentius Neethling, who served as mayor of Stellenbosch and was a member of the Cape Parliament. A member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, it is acknowledged for its protection of indigenous habitat, the 378 ha winery has set aside 127 ha for conservation. They cultivate both red and white varietals, with the bias marginally in favour of whites. The major red varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec and Pinotage. The predominant soil types found on the farm are Oakleaf and Tukulu. Winemaker is Hannes van Zyl.

Neethlingshof Estate The Caracal, which is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, was previously known as Neethlingshof Laurentius. It has been named The Caracal, to celebrate the return of the rooikat (African lynx) to Neethlingshof since the inception of its new conservation programme to rehabilitate areas of indigenous habitat, particularly the unique ecosystems surrounding the estate’s granite hills. Rooikatte are now also breeding on Neethlingshof.

Neethlingshof Estate The Caracal 2015 is a red wine blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 15% Malbec and 9% Cabernet Franc. After hand-harvesting the grapes are destalked and crushed prior to alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel at 28C for 7 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured in a combination of 300 litre new, second-fill French oak and about 10% American oak barrels, for a period of 16 months, before fining and bottling.