La Motte’s new vintage release is a classic South African Cabernet Sauvignon made from grapes grown in ultimate Cabernet Sauvignon terroir - Stellenbosch’s Helderberg area. The wine has an elegant minerality and typical varietal characteristics such as berry and plum flavours and hints of cloves, mint and cigar box. Well-considered barrel maturation and firm but accessible tannins ensure a full-bodied wine with a rich consistency and lingering finish.
Grapes for the 2019 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon are from sustainably farmed vineyards established and trellised on prominent hills roughly 7 km from the False Bay coast. The soil is a combination of weathered granite, shale and coffee stone gravel. The growing season was favourable with a wet winter and relatively cool summer.
During, what turned out to be one of the smallest harvests since 2015, grapes were sorted and destemmed in the vineyards. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with pump overs twice a day to ensure optimum colour and flavour extraction. Matured in a selection of first-fill (50%) and second-fill (50%) 300-litre French oak barrels for 24 months, the wine was blended, filtered and bottled in June 2021. 8000 (6 x 750 ml) cases were released.
Thanks to its prominent minerality, firm tannins and flavourful intensity, this wine is a classic partner to red meat. A natural choice with lamb and beef, it also works well with pork and venison. While it loves marinated roasts, rare beef and wintery stews such as a stroganoff, it is not exclusive to the carnivore. The 2019 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys the earthiness of mushrooms and root vegetables like beetroot, the herby fragrance of rosemary and thyme and the sweet smokiness of charred onions.
Winning a pre-release Gold medal from the International Concours Mondial du Bruxelles Competition, another Gold from Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards as well as Double Gold from the National Wine Challenge, the 2019 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon is clearly ready to enjoy, but it also promises exceptional maturation.
