This wine is a blend of 88% Shiraz and 12% Viognier. The Shiraz component is from Bot River in the Walker Bay region (35%), Elim (35%) and Franschhoek (18%), while the Viognier originates from Franschhoek
Veterans in the wine industry described 2010 as one of the most difficult in their career. Winter conditions were not ideal for good budding. Cold and rain hampered budding further and, together with wind, bunch denseness was severely impeded. Late rains caused fungus diseases, late dry conditions reduced the already light yield even further and a heat wave in March had a slightly negative effect on flavours.
The Elim vineyards grow in duplex soils with a high content of ferrocrete (coffee stone), the Walker Bay vineyards grow in shallow shale, and the Franschhoek vineyards in deep structureless, sandy decomposed granite. The Walker Bay and Franschhoek vineyards are managed organically. This practice, together with the cool conditions in the Elim area, result in a naturally low yield of about 5 tons/ha. The Franschhoek Viognier was chosen because of its late ripening and was picked together with the Shiraz, for the grapes to be fermented together.
Grapes from the various Shiraz vineyards were harvested at different times, but always together with some Viognier. The grapes were hand-sorted and then fermented without stems. Regular pump-overs were performed during fermentation at approximately 25 degrees Celsius. After about 25 days’ maceration, the free-run and presswine were placed together in 300-litre barrels for 14 months’ maturation – 70% of the barrels were new. Subsequently, blending took place and the wine was returned to the barrels for another 4 months, before bottling took place in December 2011. 5 000 cartons (6 x 750 ml) were released as 2010 La Motte Shiraz • Viognier.
Good colour and tight, concentrated tannins from the Walker Bay area are combined with spicy, intensely flavoured wine from Elim and elegant, juicy wine from Franschhoek, to produce a wine full of flavour and complexity. The nose reflects raspberry and cranberry fruit with liquorice and green pepper spice. The splash of Viognier adds a rose-petal perfume.
Alcohol 13,7% vol
Total acid 6,2 g/l
Residual sugar 2,7 g/l
pH 3,6
