For the fifth time, Doolhof Wine Estate near Wellington has been awarded national winner status at the Sixth Annual Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards.

This year, two wines are national winners, the 2009 Signatures of Doolhof Malbec for theTop Malbec and the 2009 Signatures of Doolhof Petit Verdot for the Top Petit Verdot.  The latter follows its predecessor of the 2008 vintage, which was a national winner at the same awards last year.

Both wines have been crafted by Doolhof wine maker, Friedrich Kühne, using the same processes but with different yeasts.  Viticulturist Hendrik Laubscher, is in charge of the vineyards.

The 2009 Malbec comes from a small, 2.5 hectare, west-facing vineyard on the Palmietberg on Doolhof Estate, planted in 2003.  Stony soil, minimal irrigation and careful tending ensure grapes of the highest quality.  Hand harvesting, cold soaking for 48 hours and fermentation for seven days took place.

After extended skin contact that added richness and depth, the wine was matured in 50% new 225 litre barrels and 50% second fill French oak barrels for 14 months, and bottled in November 2010.  This is a serious food wine that pairs well with red meat dishes accompanied by rich, spicy sauces.

The 2009 Petit Verdot grapes are grown in Clovelly soils in a small, north-facing vineyard planted in 2004.  The grapes were hand picked, cold soaked for 48 hours and fermented for seven days at a low temperature to produce a wine of finesse and fruit.  The Petit Verdot, also aged in French barrels for 14 months, is a powerful wine that pairs best with game and beef fillet.

Friedrich Kühne is delighted that these wines, in particular, have received this major recognition.  “Hendrik and I believe that a great wine is made in the vineyard.  So, we take great care to ensure that viticultural and oenological processes are excellent, to create these outstanding wines from Doolhof’s unique terroir under Bain’s Kloof Pass.”

Media enquiries: Penelope Horwood
bellarosah@gmail.com, 083 708 2660

This entry was posted on Monday, August 1st, 2011 at 9:46 am and is filed under Awards, Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.