“While initially closed and reserved, I am increasingly impressed with the 2012 vintage”, says La Motte Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche.
“With a lower yield and fairly cool growing season, the 2012 red wines at La Motte are showing good colour, complexity, concentrated flavours and elegance – all that is expected from the estate’s award-winning Classic Collection.”
Being released a few weeks apart, La Motte introduces the 2012 vintage of both the Rhône-style La Motte Syrah and classic La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon.
2012 La Motte Syrah
The elegant style of the 2012 La Motte Syrah affirms the estate’s decision to change the name from Shiraz to Syrah in 2011 in order to be clearer about the style expectation. Made with grapes from optimal Syrah terroir, picked at the correct ripeness and blended with small percentages of complementary varieties, the 2012 Syrah is a wine of balance, complexity, freshness and finesse. Notes of perfume on the nose are complemented by cranberry fruit and aniseed, while the palate with its chalky tannins follows through on the red berries and finishes with a hint of fresh mint.
Grapes originate from Franschhoek, Walker Bay, Elim, Paarl and Stellenbosch and were harvested over a period of one month. After being hand-sorted, whole berries were cool fermented in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation started in the tanks and finished in 300-litre French oak barrels of which 30% were new. Before blending, the wine was matured for 14 months. The blend includes 6% Grenache, 3% Tempranillo, 2% Petit Syrah and 2% Cinsaut. 20 000 cartons (6 x 750 ml) were produced.
Analysis: 2012 La Motte Syrah
Alcohol 13.7%
Residual sugar 2.5 g/l
Total acidity 5.7 g/l
pH 3.53
Price: 2012 La Motte Syrah is available at the La Motte cellar at R145 per bottle.
2012 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon
Ruby red in colour, with a fine fruit structure and the intricate flavours of tomato leaf and cinnamon spice, the 2012 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon has a supple consistency with juicy fruit on the palate and earthiness on the finish.
Made with grapes from Stellenbosch, Paarl, Durbanville, Walker Bay and Franschhoek, the 2012 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex wine, reflecting the various terroirs and clones in the blend. After being cooled overnight, grapes were hand-sorted, de-stemmed and inoculated with selected yeasts. After fermentation, extended skin contact of 20 to 30 days was allowed. The wine was matured for 14 months in French oak barrels – 50% new, 25% second fill and 25% third fill. After maturation, the Cabernet Sauvignon was blended with 15% Merlot in order to enhance balance and complexity. 8 500 cases (6 x 750 ml) were produced.
Analysis: 2012 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol 13.84%
Residual sugar 2.7 g/l
Total acidity 5.7 g/l
pH 3.57
Price: 2012 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon is available at the La Motte cellar at R120 per bottle.
