Alvi’s Drift Verreaux Pinotage

The Grapes
The Verreaux Pinotage is made entirely from estate grown fruit, hand selected in the early
morning to ensure only cool, perfect bunches are delivered to the winery.
Optimum ripeness was achieved at approximately 25° balling.

In The Cellar
The wine was crushed into traditional open fermenters for fermentation. Juice
was bled from the skins to improve the colour and total phenol levels in the
wine. Once fermentation commenced the cap was punched through by hand
up to 8 times per day. After fermentation the wine was matured for 22
months in a combination of new French and American Oak barrels.

The Wine
The Verreaux Pinotage is made without compromise, in small volumes, with
intense colour, robust tannin and juicy, ripe fruit flavours of mulberries and
blackberries. The fruit is complimented with complex flavours of leather, nuts
and vanilla. Blended from individually selected barrels, the discerning wine
lover will appreciate that the Verreaux will reach full potential with 8-10 years
of careful cellar maturation. A perfect partner for red meat, game, duck and
mature cheeses.

The Verreaux Pinotage packaging
Verreaux’s Eagle, (also known as the Black Eagle) is a large, majestic bird of
prey which frequently soars high above Alvi’s Drift. Named in honour of
Pierre Jules Verreaux, the French naturalist who first described many species
of birds and animals in Southern Africa. This rare and beautiful bird now gives
its name to Alvi’s Drift flagship Pinotage.
The label features an illustration of Alvi’s Drift, the ford built by Alvi van der
Merwe in 1928. This low water bridge crosses the Breede River which cuts
through the family property.

Analysis
RS- 3.2 Alc-13.91% TA-5.2 pH-3.61