Landau du Val Private Selection Semillon 2014, ’n erfeniswyn om te koester - Planet Wine
Landau du Val Private Selection Semillon 2014, ’n erfeniswyn om te koester
Johann Crafford on December 7, 2017 under News/Nuus
La Brie, die bekende wynlandgoed van die Landau-familie in die hart van die Franschhoek-wynvallei, is ook die tuiste van die “erfeniswingerd” van hul bekende semillon waarvan die 2014-oesjaar die jongste bekendstelling is. Hierdie wingerd is ’n allemintige 112 jaar oud!
Toe Basil Landau die plaas in 1986 aangeskaf het, was hy onbewus van die wingerd se bestaan, maar sedert hy hierdie “erfenis-wingerdstokke” ontdek het, is hulle gekoester en ontwikkel om uiteindelik die landgoed se vlagskipwyn voort te bring, met 1995 die eerste oesjaar. Die bosstokke word nie besproei nie en die druiwe vir die 2014-oesjaarwyn is as trosse gepars waarna natuurlike gisting in Franse eikehoutvate plaas gevind het. Altesaam 25% van die vate was nuut en die res ouer. Die sap het teen tussen 14° en 17°C gegis en die moer is daagliks geroer vir twee maande en daarna een keer ’n maand vir die volgende agt maande. Vatveroudering het 12 maande lank geduur.
Die gemiddelde jaarlikse opbrengs van hierdie wingerdblok is slegs vyf tot ses ton druiwe en lewer ’n uitmuntende droë semillon en een van die min erfeniswyne wat vandag nog in Suid-Afrika gemaak word. Dit word as een van die Franschhoek-vallei se ikoniese wyne beskou.
Die 2014-oesjaarwyn word deur die wynmaker, Wynand Grobler, as ’n droë wyn met neutagtigheid vermeng met aromas van suurlemoenskil en rooi appels in die neus beskryf. Die mondgoel is vol en ryk met geure van heuning, nougat, sitrus en karamel en toon ’n volmaakte balans en ’n heerlike, romerige en talmende nasmaak. Hy kan nou reeds geniet word, maar sal sy volle potensiaal na ’n verdere veroudering van 10 jaar bereik. Dis ’n wyn wat gemaak word om te hou en met ouderdom te verbeter, en niks illustreer dit beter nie as die feit dat die 2002-oesjaarwyn steeds heerlik drink.
As in ag geneem word dat semillon slegs 1% uitmaak van die wyn wat in Suid-Afrika gemaak word, is hierdie beslis ’n onontdekte juweel. Dit het reeds telkemale lofbetuigings van rolspelers in die bedryf en die media ontvang. Dis die ideale wyn met breyani, hoenderkerrie, oondgeroosterde vark, seekos, skulpvis, oondgeroosterde hoender of selfs paella.
Die Landau du Val Semillon 2014 is op die plaas beskikbaar teen R350 per bottel of by La Cotte Wine Sales in Franschhoek.
Vir meer inligting, kontak basillandau@mweb.co.za.
Landau du Val Private Selection Semillon 2014, a heritage wine to be savoured
Situated in the heart of the Franschhoek Wine Valley, just off the Robertsvlei Road, is where you’ll find the farm La Brie, home to the Landau family. This is also home to the heritage vineyard of their semillon, 112 years old to be exact.
When Basil Landau acquired the farm in 1986 he was unaware of the vineyard’s existence, but since discovering these heritage vines, they have been nurtured and developed into what has become the estate’s flagship wine, with the maiden vintage produced in 1995. The bush vines receive no irrigation, and the grapes for the 2014 vintage are whole bunch pressed with natural fermentation taking place in small French oak barrels, comprising 25% new and 75% older barrels. The must was fermented between 14º and 17ºC, and the lees was stirred daily for two months and then once a month for the next eight months thereafter. Barrel maturation took place for 12 months.
The average annual production from this block is approximately 3,5 tons per hectare, and produces a superb dry Semillon which is one of the very few heritage wines still being produced in South Africa today, which is regarded as one of the Franschoek Valley’s iconic wines.
The current release of the 2014 vintage, is described by winemaker Wynand Grobler as a dry wine with nutty nuances intermingled with zesty lime and red apple aromas. A full, rich palate of honey, nougat and citrus is perfectly balanced with caramel richness and a beautiful lingering creamy finish. Ready to drink now, this wine has great aging potential for up to at least 10 years from harvest. A wine made to last and improve with age. This has been proven regularly with earlier vintages such as the 2002, which is still drinking beautifully.
Taking into account that Semillon makes up only 1% of wine produced in South Africa this is truly an undiscovered gem, which has consistently received rave reviews from industry role players and media alike. The perfect wine to enjoy with Breyani, Chicken Curry, Roast Pork, Seafood, Shellfish, Roast Chicken, Paella and even cheeses.
The wine is available directly from the farm or La Cotte Wine Sales in Franschhoek at R350 per bottle.
For more information, contact basillandau@mweb.co.za.