Ridgeback Shiraz

Ridgeback Wines is situated in the northern part of the picturesque town of Paarl in the Western Cape, on the northern slopes of the magnificent Paarl Mountain. The farm extends over an area of 65 hectares. Their vineyards are amongst the finest in the Cape, and the winery, which overlooks a small dam, is home to an abundance of waterfowl which add to the beauty and peaceful ambience of this tranquil environment.
A total of 35 hectares are currently under vine with the potential to increase the capacity further. The farm has planted a wide variety of different cultivars. enabling their winemaker to produce an exciting array of blends and single varietal wines

A whole berry component of about 30% reached the fermenter. For complexity and freshness a 5% portion of ripe stalks were added to the berries in the tank. The mash was fermented in open top stainless steel fermenters at 24-280 C and ferment lasted 5-7 days. Judicious pumpovers for extraction of flavour, aromatics and tannins were carried out 3- 4 times daily during this time. The mash was immediately pressed after alcoholic fermentation was completed and the free run and pressed fractions were consolidated. The wine was then gravity fed to 225Li barrels for secondary Malo-Lactic fermentation. The wine was racked twice for clarification during the maturation period.

Maturation lasted for 17 months in 20% first, 67% second and 13% third-fill French oak barrels.

Blending of selected barrels was followed by a light filtration before bottling.

Intense, upfront notes of dark cherry, cracked black pepper, liquorice and a hint of tobacco leaf are cradled by oak spice and suede tannins on the long savoury finish.