With a moderate to deep ruby color, the 2000 Opus One shows aromas of sandalwood, leather, cassis, roasted alminds and a hint of anise. Soft and plush in the mouth, the wine offers flavors of plums and black licorice supported by sweet tannins and a long, intense finish.
84% Cabernet Sauvignon
6% Merlot
5% Malbec
2% Petit Verdot
19 Months New French Oak
Recently Enoch Zaleni (from Fairvalley South Africa-Winery) visited Cornerstone Wine and Gifts for a wine tasting. We had a wonderful experience with Enoch. He shared lots of information with us about their wines and winery. Just in case you weren’t able to make it to our tasting, we are passing this information on to you…
Background on the winery
The FAIR VALLEY ASSOCIATION was established during 1997 and The farm FairValley was acquired by the Association, funded partially by The Department of Land Affairs’ grants and partially by a grant made available by the FAIRVIEW TRUST (Fairview Wine & Cheese Estate). The 42 families who are today the members of the Association are residents on Fairview Farm and are in the full-time employ of the Fairview Trust.
The development framework allows for approximately 450 residential units and 20,000 sq miles commercial and light industries to be built on the land. The FairValley Development Company that was established between the partners intends to use alternative eco-friendly building materials grey water system was designed to save water consumption, and solar energy and other energy efficient techniques will be used.
So not only are they making great wines, they are going green in their technique and supporting local families who are able to live on the farm. Come try out their outstanding selection of wines today at your favorite wine shop, Cornerstone Wine and Gifts.
Enoch Zaleni even signed our bottles
Our most popular fairvalley wines
Chenin Blanc
TASTING NOTE
Melon fruit on the nose, with a hint of fragrance. Mouthfeel is rounded and well balanced, with good acidity and richness.
IN THE VINEYARD
The grapes for this wine are from three sites. The first is a bushvine vineyard on the west facing hills outside Darling. The vineyard was planted in 2001 on Richter 99 rootstock and is dryland farmed. The second site is on the lower slopes of Paarl mountain and is irrigated. This low-yielding vineyard is 32 years old and is planted on duplex soils. The third portion is in the Piekenierskloof and is a dryland bushvine vineyard.
HARVEST DATE
9 February (Piekenierskloof) and 18 February (Darling and Paarl)
WINEMAKING
Grapes were hand harvested at 22.3° (Piekenierskloof), 22.5° balling (Darling) and 24.6° balling (Paarl). The fruit was destalked and lightly crushed into separator tanks. It was pressed and then allowed to settle for 48 hours. The clear juice was racked off and fermented using Vin 7 yeasts at approximately 12 degrees Celsius. Fermentation lasted 20 days. Once completed the wine was lightly sulphured and left sur lie for two months prior to bottling. No malolactic fermentation was allowed.
Wine of Origin Western Cape
Alcohol 13.89%
Residual sugar 3.3g
Total acid 6.2g
pH 3.33
VARIETIES Chenin Blanc 100%
Sauvignon Blanc
TASTING NOTE
Hints of capsicum on the nose, with pear fruit flavours and good acidity.
IN THE VINEYARD
Grapes were sourced from trellised vines in cool climate vineyards outside Darling on the west coast. These vineyards are unirrigated and are planted on deep oakleaf soils. 20 percent of the fruit is from and older trellised vineyard outside Malmesbury in the Swartland region.
HARVEST DATE
Second and third week of February 2009
WINEMAKING
The Darling fruit was machine harvested at night, with the grapes arriving cool at the cellar. Bunches were destalked and crushed into stainless steel tanks. The juice was settled for 48 hours, before being drawn off and cold-fermented in tank. The Swartland fruit was hand-picked at night. A combination of Vin7 and Vin13 yeasts were used. After fermentation, the wine was left sur lie for 8 weeks prior to blending and bottling.
Wine of Origin Coastal
Alcohol 12.15%
Residual sugar 3.2 g
Total acid 6.6 g
pH 3.41
VARIETIES Sauvignon Blanc 100%
Pinotage
TASTING NOTE
Fresh, juicy fruit flavours of plums and red berries, with very light oaking and gentle spice.
IN THE VINEYARD
Fruit is sourced from vineyards in the Paarl and Agter-Paarl and Swartland regions. The Paarl sites are trellised vineyards and are planted on decomposed granite soils. The Swartland vineyards are also trellised and grow on shale soils.
HARVEST DATE
February 2008
WINEMAKING
Grapes were picked ripe, destalked and lightly crushed. The components were fermented individually, in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine was pressed off. After malolactic fermentation in tank, the wine was racked off and aged in older French and American oak barrels for 6 months. The components were then blended, filtered and bottled.
Wine of Origin Coastal
Alcohol 14.65%
Residual sugar 3.5 g
Total acid 5.7 g
pH 3.72
VARIETIES Pinotage 100%
2000 Growing Season
With the exception of a small number of heat spikes in June, the growing season was ideal. Hot days and cool nights reigned on our hillside, which in turn, allowed our berries to ripen at a steady rate, with exceptionally balanced acidity and immense complexity. Yields were small to normal. Our vineyards have been organically farmed and hand labored since 1988.
Winemaking
Extended Maceration of hand selected lots. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel. 100% new French Oak barrels every year (with 4% to 5% of Russian Oak barrels for the Cabernet Franc). Wine spends 24 months in barrels (Taransaud – Seguin Moreau). Racked every 14-16 weeks, there was no fining or filtration. Our philosophy is to allow the grapes and the terroir (all factors that influence the character of grapes grown in a specific microclimate), to express itself naturally, in every glass of Viader.
Our distinctive blend of Cabernet Sauvignon—which provides the backbone or structure, character and complexity, with succulent fruit and rich tannins— and Cabernet Franc—which instills the aromatics, and provides the silky structure as well as suppleness and elegance in the lengthy finish—captures an ideal balance between the two, with the Cabernet Franc contributing early approachability and the Cabernet Sauvignon providing longevity.
Winemaker Notes: 2000 Viader Proprietary Cabernet Blend Napa Valley
Intense concentrated fruit with black currants, layers of chocolate, hints of licorice, anise, earth and leather, with a long, complex, and lingering aftertaste. Powerful and rich fruit with well-incorporated tannins— though not overpowering—lead to an elegant and graceful gem. Although quite approachable now, it will continue to age superbly over the next two decades. Best to drink in 5 to 7 years for added bottle bouquet & complexity. Wine Spectator 92 points.
Palmaz Vinyeards’ winemaking and aging takes place within the living rock of Mount George, in a flawlessly engineered maze of tunnels and lofty domes. The height of the wine cave is equivalent to an 18 story building. Providing the vertical range needed for the true gravity flow winemaking. Thus, the wine is never subjected to the violent agitation of pumping, which can change the wine’s intra-molecular structure. This gentle treatment allows the finest nuances of flavor to develop naturally. The result is a complex, elegant wine.
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