Mooiplaas Watershed Pinot Noir 2019

Grapes were de-stemmed but weren’t crushed (whole berries). Cold soaking took place for 2 days. Fermentation took place over 7 days on the skins in open bin liners at 24 – 28 0C. Punched down 5 times a day, pressed with a pneumatic press. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred. Specially selected 225L and 300L barrels were used for the maturation of the wine. The wine was aged for 9 months. French oak barrels, 3rd and 4rd fill. Bottling took place on 28 January 2019.

The Watershed takes pride of place as the highest vineyards on Mooiplaas, with a panoramic view of the Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain. At an altitude of 370m above sea level, cool southerly winds from the nearby Atlantic Ocean create ideal ripening conditions for grapes of exceptional quality. Harvest date was 14 February 2018. Harvested by hand. Yield: 17 hl- and 2.8 tonnes/ha.

The wine should evolve well over time, with ample structure and concentration to age for 8 to 10 years.

Pinot Noir

This wine pairs very well with pork belly and grilled salmon.

Mooiplaas Wine Estate and Private Nature Reserve is situated among the majestic mountains and fertile valleys in the Stellenbosch Winelands, approximately. Mooiplaas is a historic and traditional working wine farm. The vineyards lie on steep slopes of ancient mineral-rich soils in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch, overlooking Cape Town. Mooiplaas Wine Estate & Private Nature Reserve uses an environmentally friendly and biodiversity approach to produce premium quality grapes each year. With the advantage of growing up on the farm and farming since 1980, the viticulturist, Tielman Roos, knows every intimate detail of the estate and the terroir. One of the most striking features of Mooiplaas is the uneven terrain, from the meadows on the valley floor to the watershed on top of the hills. These topographical contrasts result in interesting differences in the microclimate. The different slopes and varying heights are the most important factors to consider when Tielman takes that first critical decision: the combination of cultivar and rootstock for each terroir. Cape Granite, the mother material of the soils on the estate, is prominently displayed as outcrops and domes along the hills. It is the weathering of this volcanic rock that gives rise to the soil on the farm. Mooiplaas covers an area of 243 hectares, of which approximately 100 hectares are planted with vineyards and 70 hectares are dedicated to the Mooiplaas Private Nature Reserve. When it comes to winemaking, their cellar master, Louis Roos, is a true purist. He uses a range of classic and traditional winemaking processes to produce the Mooiplaas wines, such as wild yeast, natural fermentation, light filtration and maturation in small oak barrels.