Winemakers notes on the Novare SA Terroir Awards 2019 winners
Jacques Bruwer (Keldermeester):
Die Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé 2019 is die nuutse toevoeging tot die Bon Courage reeks. Die naam bring hulde aan ouma Maude Bruwer, deel van die eerste generasie Bruwers op Bon Courage.
Haar passie vir tuinmaak weerspieel in die wyn met geure van vars blomme en vrugte wat oorspoel met ‘n vol mond gevoel en ryk is aan geur en kompleksiteit met ‘n goeie balans.
Ons is sterk voorstaanders van terroir en glo dat wyn reeds in die wingerd gemaak word. Dis ‘n 9 jaar oue wingerd wat staan op ‘n rooi, goed-gedreineerde, kalk grond wat ook gebruik word om rooiwyn te maak.
Philip Viljoen (Wynmaker):
The Lady of the house Pinotage Rosé 2019 is the newest addition to the Bon Courage range. As an Estate we try to bottle all the wine produced. We decided to make a dry style Pinotage Rosé to pay tribute to Grandma Maude Bruwer, the first generation Bruwers on Bon Courage. Using exceptional grapes we managed to create an appealing coloured wine with overabundance flavour and taste which reflects on her passion for gardening. The vineyard is 9 years old and the flavours and style of the wine reflects our unique terroir.
Colombard is een van Bon Courage se “claim to fames” veral vir André Bruwer, na wie die wyn vernoem is. André’s Fame Colombard het oor die laaste paar jaar vir ons baie toekennings in gebring. Die spesifieke terroir van die 15 jaar ou wingerd, staan op die koeler gedeeltes van die plaas, langs die Breërivier op diep aluviale grond. Die wingerdboukundige praktyke asook die wynmaak proses verleen hom daarna toe om maksimum geur na vore te bring wat weerspieel in die spesifieke wyn.
2019 Bon Courage André's Fame Colombard is one of our most planted grape varieties. It has really rewarded us over the last few years. We try to handle it the same as our Sauvignon, more specifically concentrating on the thiols from the vineyards after it gets harvested, transported to the winery, trying to protect it and with every step of the way into the bottle. Colombard is a grape variety with a potential to give you a large concentration of tropical aromas and we try to focus on that component specifically. At the end of the day it comes down to our philosophy of trying to let the wines express its true characteristics in the bottle.
Die druiwe vir die basiswyn het gekom van ‘n 30 jaar oue wingerd, die terroir van hierdie blok kan beskryf word as klipperige, kalk Karoo grond wat geleë is op die hoërliggende gedeeltes van die plaas. Daar kom geure van sitrus deur met ‘n meer prominente brioche karakter en pertinente borrels in die mond, ryk geure met ‘n romerige vol mond gevoel en goeie balans.
Die 2011 Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique is ten volle hand gemaak en was 84 maande op die gismoer tydens die 2de gisting & na disgorging 9 maande op die kurk gelê voor vrygestelling. Die kombinasie van terroir en kelderpraktyke dra by tot die geure van die wyn.
The grapes used for this wine mainly comes from 30 year old vineyards – the terroir of this block is rocky, Karoo limestone and is situated on the higher slopes of the farm.
This elegant Methode Cap Classique has a strong yeasty nose and a faint lemon scent. It is a white crispy wine with a creamy complexity on the palate. A wine with great finesse.
The 2011 Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique is 100% hand-made – the base wine was kept on the lees for 8 months initially during the first fermentation. 10% of the Chardonnay was barrel fermented. The “magic of the bubbles” begins during the 2nd fermentation that occurs in the bottle thereby extending maturation on the lees for 84 months. After “disgorgement” (removal of the yeast lees) and “dosage” (adding base wine and sugar) the final product is left on the cork +- 9months, and then released. The combination of terroir and cellar practice adds to the aroma of the wine.