Aj Wine

red / dry / 14% alc.

Grape variety
79% Syrah, 11% Grenache Noir, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cinsault, 1% Viognier

The style of the wine is a reflection of winemaker's belief that the Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, is eminently suited to blended reds. The make-up of this wine is tweaked from vintage to vintage to best reflect the season and the ancient vines of great character that are an integral part of the wine's charm and personality.

This wine is the perfect example of identifying “undiscovered” parcels of vineyard with amazing potential and utilizing it to unleash its world class quality. The Syrah and Viognier fruit come from Malmesbury (Swartland) with its unique growing conditions and dryland farmed vineyards to ensure it deep-rooted vines and therefore optimal concentration of colour, flavour and tannin structure. The Grenanche Noir is sourced from Piekenierskloof (Citrusdal) with its very sandy soils and perfect terroir for ripening this grape varietal. The Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Franschhoek and the Cinsault is from old bushvines on decomposed granite soils in Wellington. The Grenache was matured in 600L barrels to retain its unmistakable fruity aromas and vibrancy. The wine matures in 1st (all of the Cabernet Sauvignon), 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels as well as 2500L French oak foudres for 16 months before it undergoes a light filtration. 1,979 barriques were selected for the 2016 vintage.

Tasting notes
The nose is exceptionally perfumed with an abundance of complex red and dark berry fruit, violets and intense aromas of white pepper. Dark brooding fruit follows through onto a structured, opulent palate with notes of cardamom, cumin, cloves and black pepper. The midpalate is rich, textured and balanced with integrated acidity, cocoa powdery tannins and a definite cedarwood character derived from French oak. White pepper lingers on a smooth, lifted finish.