Riesling Hartenberg Wine Estate 2020

Description

Originally established in 1692, the historic Hartenberg estate is nestled in a valley on the free-draining, northeastern slopes of the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch.

Hartenberg’s holistic approach encompasses all aspects of the farm, including everyone who lives and works here. The Mackenzie family, owners of the estate since 1986, strive continuously to safeguard Hartenberg and their philosophy to “leave Hartenberg in a better condition than when we started".

Hartenberg’s underground cellar, the largest privately owned cellar in South Africa, affords the estate the perfect environment to age their wines for a few years before release.

Since the first release in 1984, Hartenberg’s Rieslings have achieved something of a local cult status. Driven by a market in search of a “dry” or “trocken” style wine, the 2018 vintage seeks to highlight the purity and complexity of fruit that makes Riesling so individual. Hand-picked at daybreak to ensure only the most heavenly flavours, about 15% of grapes showed the presence of Botrytis. After crushing and de-stemming, the fruit underwent six hours of skin contact at 12 degrees Celcius. After pressing, the juices were fermented using a yeast personally selected by renowned winemaker Carl Shultz in Austria, then stabilised, filtered and bottled.

Intense orange blossom, lanolin, citrusy notes, also honeyed and hints of yellow straw on the bouquet. Super fresh on entry, lemon, lime cordial flavours intermingled with chalky flavours. The palate expresses in a linear fashion, with wonderful definition.

FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Vegan fried rice; sushi; grilled salmon with fresh ginger.