Cape Town - La Motte is tempting winelovers with their new five star 2010 Pierneef shiraz viognier – an event that will send connoisseurs to Franschhoek to secure their share of this flagship red.
As with its predecessors, this is a brooding, complex wine that will continue to mature for up to a decade, and, like previous vintages, is set to garner international and local awards.
The farm introduced the Pierneef Collection in 2003. Wines from this, the estate’s premium range, are limited in number and are made from grapes obtained from site-specific vineyards.
The newly released vintage comprises shiraz from Bot River, Elim and Franschhoek, augmented by 12 percent viognier from its home territory, and was matured in 300-litre French oak for 14 months.
After blending, the wine was returned to barrel for a further four months.
On tasting, spice and liquorice meld with juicy fruit in an elegant wine where wafts of rose petal indicate the presence of viognier.
Compare this vintage (R199) with the elegant Pierneef 2007 shiraz viognier (R286), which has retained spicy freshness and the 2004 (R495) which is probably at its peak, presenting a fine balance between dark savoury, cherry and berry flavours, mineral backbone and fine tannins.
All three are stocked in the tasting room, adding up to an investment that could prove irresistible. - Weekend Argus