Ashbourne Pinotage, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Description

Ashbourne Pinotage is a considered by many to be one of the world’s finest Pinotages. It is classic, cool climate “Old World” expression of the variety. The first vintage was released in 2001.

Ashbourne Wines is located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It was created by the owner of Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Anthony Hamilton Russell, and is named after his great, great grandfather Lord Ashbourne who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland in the late 1800’s. The project was founded on the eastern border of  Hamilton Russell Vineyards in 1996 to create a single, extraordinary Pinotage in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation. The estate comprises 64 hectares of vineyards in close proximity to the cool South Atlantic Ocean. The vineyards are planted on extremely iron-rich and clay-rich, stony soils which helps produce the refined, classic style. As well as this superb Pinotage they also produce Sandstone white wine a blend of Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Semillon fermented in Terracotta Amporae, Nomblot Egg and Ceramic Egg.

After harvest and vinification, the grapes for Ashbourne Pinotage are 100% barrel matured for 10 months in 400 litre barrels and 6 months in neutral 2000 litre Foudre. The barrels, Francois Freres are a combination of  1^st fill 40%  2^nd fill 40% and 3rd fill 20%. 

Only 2388 bottles produced.