Sometimes there are vintages that, because of an ideal set of conditions, deliver exceptional wines and sometimes one has the luxury of only producing or at least releasing wines from these special years. Most of the time, however, the romantic image of wine production is also guided by commercial means and an established brand has to ensure sufficient stock levels and, therefore, release wine from every vintage.
Luckily, in South Africa, vintage fluctuations are not that extreme, but the challenge of the wine-making team, after the viticulturist has ensured the best possible quality grapes, is to produce a wine that best reflects its terroir, to make the fruit the hero of the wine and to with subtle wine-making techniques and technology, ensure a wine meets and ideally exceeds the expectations of both loyal customers and those newly introduced to the product.
To perfect this process with its wide set of variables, vintage after vintage is no easy task and it takes careful consideration as to vineyard selection, blending, oak maturation, etc. to ensure consistency in quality and style.
It is therefore that, although delighted with extraordinary vintages, winemakers – and wine drinkers for that matter – put a premium on consistency and, for the same reason, La Motte celebrates the extraordinary performance of its premium Pierneef Collection Syrah Viognier.
La Motte CEO Hein Koegelenberg together with Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche have a passion for and expertise with Rhône-style blends and have achieved a red blend that consistently offers tight, concentrated tannins and a distinct spiciness. Acknowledging the success of introducing cool climate styles to the estate’s portfolio, the limited volume Pierneef Syrah Viognier is made from grapes obtained from vineyards grown predominantly in the cooler South Coast region. The result is a wine full of flavour and complexity but with a certain elegance and finesse typical of a cool climate South African Syrah.
The newly released 2014 Pierneef Syrah Viognier has big shoes to fill following the success of the 2013 vintage that was appointed as the Trophy Winner for Best South African Wine in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition as well as a host of platinum and gold medals. (see awards list)
The La Motte team was therefore overjoyed when the 2014 vintage of the Pierneef Syrah Viognier was acknowledged by The National Wine Challenge as one of South Africa’s Top 100 wines as well as being included in the highly coveted Consistency Awards, recognising top performance over the last six years.
As the Consistency Awards press testifies: “Consistency is the single key underpinning quality unique to all wines that are regarded as great wines, throughout the world. It is equally a true statement of great vineyard sites as well as of wineries themselves.”
The 2014 Pierneef Syrah Viognier reflects aromatic herb and perfume notes integrated with sweet fruit and toasted oak. Tight and restrained on the palate, with a pleasing, dry finish, this blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier guarantees exceptional maturation and promises to maintain its elegance for many years to come.
