De Waal Signal Rock Cape Blend 2019
R395,00
This story comes a long way and was told by Jan de Waal, the grandfather of the current owner, Pieter de Waal. Jan started farming on the family farm in 1913. During winter days, daily at about 12h00, the sun shines on a specific rock on the Stellenbosch Mountains. This was an indication (the signal) to the workers, who didn’t own wrist watches at the time, that it was time for a lunch break. This phenomenon can still be seen today from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vineyards on the farm. This is a dark coloured wine, with beautiful fresh black fruit and mulberries. It is voluptuous and rich, with a velvety, round finish.
More Information
Specifications
In the cellar
Our Blend is produced in limited quantities.
Cellar Maturation: 18 months 225-litre French oak, 25% new, 75% second fill barrels.
Bottling Date: February 2022
In the vineyard
Location of Vineyard: On warmer north facing slopes
Soil Type: Gravel & loam
Age of Vineyards: 20 - 40 years
Root Stock: R 99
Method of Trellising: 3 wire-hedge
Harvest
Harvest Date: March 2019
Sugar level at Harvest: 25.5°B
Yield per Hectare: 5 tonnes per hectare
Ageing
This wine will age well and can be cellared for 10 - 15 years from date of vintage, if stored in the correct conditions.
Cultivar
50% Pinotage 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Food Pairing
This wine will pair well with a good Fillet, Lamb Shank or Osso Bucco dish.
About the Wine Estate
De Waal Wines, situated on Uiterwyk Estate in the cool Stellenbosch Kloof Valley, has been a De Waal family concern since 1864. The experience waiting for the visitor is authentic and understated with personal attention from hands-on management. Owned by Pieter de Waal, this historic family legacy boasts nine generations of passionate winemakers, entirely focused on delighting their patrons by offering exceptional wines. The wines combine elegant Old World finesse and abundant New World fruit. De Waal's mature vineyards offer grapes that produce deep, rich wines fondly recalled for their consistent quality and enjoyment. De Waal is renowned for the classic style of its Pinotage wines, the only indigenous South African grape variety. CT de Waal, a family member, was the first person to make wine from Pinotage grapes in 1941. At the time when the two De Waal brothers, Danie and Koffie ("Coffee") planted the Top of the Hill vineyard in 1950, Pinotage was still a brand new variety. CT de Waal, their cousin, made the first Pinotage wine only 9 years earlier. Being such a new variety then, the two De Waal brothers were hesitant to replace their prized Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vines with Pinotage. Therefore, they decided to plant only one hectare on an open piece of land, on top of a small hill next to a wild fig tree. The fig tree was planted by Danie de Waal as protection for vineyard workers against rain in winter. What they didn't know, was that their choice of location was exactly what Pinotage needs to make great wines: medium to poor soil, quite sandy and fairly deep with a clay layer at the bottom.
