Alto Rouge 2022
R135,00
Deep garnet colour, dense and alluring with a cerise, crimson rim. Dense autumn fruit and fynbos edge, with a hint of charcuterie. Notes of succulent plum, crushed blackberry and dry fig are at the fore, while the complexity of classic grape cultivars allows for intricate flavours of pine needle and graphite to join the fruit in an interwoven whole. Tannins are plush and beguiling, yet muscular and firm, ensuring life-affirming freshness in structure, as well as the proven agreeability of Alto Rouge from a fine vintage.
More Information
Specifications
In the cellar
The 4 grape varieties used to make up this blend ripen at different times and were harvested at 24° to 26° Balling. Each varietal was vinified separately and fermented on the skins for over seven days at 25° to 27°C in closed stainless-steel tanks. The fermenting mash was pumped over several times a day. After malolactic fermentation the component wines were aged for 18 months in a combination of first-, second- and third-fill barriques, of 90% French and 10% American oak, before the desired blend was made.
In the vineyard
The 4 varietals were handpicked from trellised vineyards which grow in Hutton and Glenrosa soils. The north and north-west facing vineyards are situated against the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, some 100m to 500m above sea level, and benefit from the cooling effects of the afternoon maritime breezes during the ripening season. At the time of picking the vines were between 6 and 29 years old and yielded 6 to 9 tons per hectare.
Ageing
18 months in a combination of first-, second- and third-fill barriques, of 90% French and 10% American oak, before the desired blend was made.
Cultivar
44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Shiraz, 12% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit Verdot.
Food Pairing
Perfect on its own or with roast chicken, pork belly and grilled beef. This wine also pairs well with matured cheese such as Cheddar and Edam and is a lovely accompaniment to creamy pasta dishes like wild mushroom risotto or alfredo.
About the Wine Estate
Alto is a farm with a rich history, befitting its status as one of the icon estates of the Western Cape winelands. The first title deeds date back to 1693, but it was only in 1919 that the farm was given over entirely to vineyard.
