This wine is a blend of 90% Shiraz and 10% Viognier. The Shiraz component is from Bot River in the Walker Bay region (57%), Elim (30%) and Franschhoek (3%) while the Viognier (10%) originates from Franschhoek.
Budding started early as a result of a warm August, while spring and flowering time turned cold again, causing unfavourable conditions. Summer was dry, with a heat wave in early January, while generally dry and hot conditions caused harvesttime to be even earlier. Quality-wise, the season was average.
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, 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 pumpovers were performed during fermentation at approximately 25 degrees Celsius. After about 25 days’ maceration, the free-run and press-wine 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 2012. Only 2 000 cartons (6 x 750 ml) were bottled and released as 2011 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. An elegant vintage with finesse and freshness.
Alcohol 13,41% Vol
Residual sugar 2,9 g/l
Total acid 6,0 g/l
pH 3,42
