Story of the wine:
South African wines have been steadily improving in quality over the last 25 years and for red wines Cabernet Sauvignon is the key variety being the most planted red grape, followed by Merlot. The name of the winery, Allee Bleue, refers to the statuesque blue eucalyptus trees that line the entrance and the estate, which goes back to the French Huguenots in the late 17th century, has been recently revived by new owners. The grapes come from Banghoek, the mountain amphitheatre above Pniel just east of Stellenbosch. Here False Bay has the effect of moderating the local climate and summer temperatures are similar to those in Bordeaux.
Grape(s): 56% Cabernet Sauvignon 44% Merlot
Area: Vineyards in Banghoek
Training system: VSP Trellising
Vines per ha.: 2,500 vines per ha.
Yield: 105 hl/ha
Av. age of vines: 25 years old
Vinification: After harvesting, sorting and cooling, the grapes were crushed and then put in the red wine fermenters and a cold soak done at 7 C for 4 days. There was a 2 week fermentation and a full malolactic fermentation in barrel.
Ageing: The wine was matured for 14 months in French oak barriques before blending all the components prior to bottling in the August following the vintage, 60% were new and the rest 2nd fill. The wine was released a month after bottling.
Pack size: 6x75cl
Regional dish Springbok Frikkadelle with chunky tomato smoor (Frikadelle
for this wine are meat balls; a smoor is a stew.)
recommended by
the producer:
Descriptions for Wine List
1) Good herby nose slightly smoky with a good fruity structure and a firm dry finish.
2) South African Bordeaux blends are on a roll and Banghoek is climatically ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot blends. Good herby nose slightly smoky with a good fruity structure and a firm dry finish.
Country: South Africa Region: Groot Drakenstein - South Africa Grape: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon 44% Merlot Product code: 7204 Pack size: 6x75cl
The name of the winery, Allee Bleue, refers to the statuesque blue eucalyptus trees that line the entrance and the estate, which goes back to the French Huguenots in the late 17th century, has been recently revived by new owners. The grapes come from Banghoek, the mountain amphitheatre above Pniel just east of Stellenbosch. Here False Bay has the effect of moderating the local climate and summer temperatures are similar to those in Bordeaux.
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