WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES HONOURED
IN TIM ATKIN'S 2019 SOUTH AFRICA SPECIAL REPORT
Welgegund Heritage Wines has broken the venerable 90-point barrier in Tim Atkin’s 2019 South Africa Special Report with two 2017 special releases from low-yielding dryland bush vines: Welgegund Heritage Wines Grenache Noir and Cinsault with 93 and 91 points respectively. Tim Atkin, a British Master of Wine and accomplished wine commentator with over 30 years’ experience under his belt, has extensive knowledge when it comes to South African wines.
He tasted 2 115 local wines for his 2019 report, now in its seventh year and his largest yet. The wines are rated according to the international 100-point system. WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES GRENACHE NOIR AND CINSAULT 2017 “We are overjoyed that the stature of our two 2017 maiden niche cultivar releases has been endorsed by acclaimed UK Master of Wine Tim Atkin. 2017 proved to be an exceptional vintage. Our Cinsault and Grenache Noir were normally destined for blending, but when I saw the quality of these varietals in barrel, I just knew I had to do single cultivar bottlings and show these wines to the world. The immense drought of the 2016/2017 season had created smaller Grenache and Cinsault berries bringing lovely colour and intense concentration to the wines, with a wealth of fruit, richness, texture and depth of flavour. We wanted to showcase the ample fruit and aromas unique to Grenache and Cinsault,” says Welgegund Heritage Wines winemaker, Friedrich Kühne. WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES GRENACHE NOIR 2017 In the vineyard and the cellar: This wine is produced from a high-altitude west-facing dryland bush vine vineyard planted in 2006. 50% of the wine was aged unoaked, to retain fresh fruity aromas, with the balance aged for 14 months in 3rd and 4th-fill French oak barrels.
Winemaker’s tasting notes: Bright and exuberant with light violet hues, the nose displays an abundance of blackberry and raspberry aromas with some subtle floral notes. The palate is soft, lean and refined, showing dark fruit, chocolate and black forest cake with a hint of cloves, powdery well-integrated tannins Limited release: Only 1777 (the year Welgegund was established) individually numbered bottles were produced. WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES CINSAULT 2017 In the vineyard and the cellar: This wine is produced from a 1974 southwest-facing dryland bush vine heritage vineyard with an extremely low yield of 1.2 tons per hectare. A large portion of the wine (80%) was aged unoaked, to retain fresh fruity aromas, with the balance aged for 14 months in 3rd and 4th-fill French oak. Winemaker’s tasting notes: Clear and bright with fresh purple hues, the nose displays an array of fresh berry aromas: cherries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries with a hint of spice. The palate is soft, juicy and consistent, showing liquorice and dark fruit flavours with subtle savoury notes, silky tannins and a persistent clean finish. “Our purest expression of Cinsault.” Limited release: Only 1768 individually numbered bottles were produced. WINE PACKAGING AND RETAIL PRICES “We were so impressed with these two niche cultivar bottlings that we pulled out all the stops with exquisite packaging - bold imported bottles, simple and elegant wrap-round labels, regal wax seals and numbered bottles,” continued Friedrich Kühne.
Welgegund Wine Farm, 119 Berg Street, Wellington, South Africa Tel: 021 873 2123 · Email: emathews@welgegund.co.za Website: https://www.welgegund.co.za/ · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welgegundwines/ Twitter: @WelgegundWines Instagram: @Welgegund_wines #WelgegundWines
Welgegund Heritage Wines has broken the venerable 90-point barrier in Tim Atkin’s 2019 South Africa Special Report with two 2017 special releases from low-yielding dryland bush vines: Welgegund Heritage Wines Grenache Noir and Cinsault with 93 and 91 points respectively. Tim Atkin, a British Master of Wine and accomplished wine commentator with over 30 years’ experience under his belt, has extensive knowledge when it comes to South African wines.
He tasted 2 115 local wines for his 2019 report, now in its seventh year and his largest yet. The wines are rated according to the international 100-point system. WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES GRENACHE NOIR AND CINSAULT 2017 “We are overjoyed that the stature of our two 2017 maiden niche cultivar releases has been endorsed by acclaimed UK Master of Wine Tim Atkin. 2017 proved to be an exceptional vintage. Our Cinsault and Grenache Noir were normally destined for blending, but when I saw the quality of these varietals in barrel, I just knew I had to do single cultivar bottlings and show these wines to the world. The immense drought of the 2016/2017 season had created smaller Grenache and Cinsault berries bringing lovely colour and intense concentration to the wines, with a wealth of fruit, richness, texture and depth of flavour. We wanted to showcase the ample fruit and aromas unique to Grenache and Cinsault,” says Welgegund Heritage Wines winemaker, Friedrich Kühne. WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES GRENACHE NOIR 2017 In the vineyard and the cellar: This wine is produced from a high-altitude west-facing dryland bush vine vineyard planted in 2006. 50% of the wine was aged unoaked, to retain fresh fruity aromas, with the balance aged for 14 months in 3rd and 4th-fill French oak barrels.
Winemaker’s tasting notes: Bright and exuberant with light violet hues, the nose displays an abundance of blackberry and raspberry aromas with some subtle floral notes. The palate is soft, lean and refined, showing dark fruit, chocolate and black forest cake with a hint of cloves, powdery well-integrated tannins Limited release: Only 1777 (the year Welgegund was established) individually numbered bottles were produced. WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES CINSAULT 2017 In the vineyard and the cellar: This wine is produced from a 1974 southwest-facing dryland bush vine heritage vineyard with an extremely low yield of 1.2 tons per hectare. A large portion of the wine (80%) was aged unoaked, to retain fresh fruity aromas, with the balance aged for 14 months in 3rd and 4th-fill French oak. Winemaker’s tasting notes: Clear and bright with fresh purple hues, the nose displays an array of fresh berry aromas: cherries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries with a hint of spice. The palate is soft, juicy and consistent, showing liquorice and dark fruit flavours with subtle savoury notes, silky tannins and a persistent clean finish. “Our purest expression of Cinsault.” Limited release: Only 1768 individually numbered bottles were produced. WINE PACKAGING AND RETAIL PRICES “We were so impressed with these two niche cultivar bottlings that we pulled out all the stops with exquisite packaging - bold imported bottles, simple and elegant wrap-round labels, regal wax seals and numbered bottles,” continued Friedrich Kühne.
The Welgegund Heritage Wines Grenache Noir and Cinsault 2017, adorned with vivid violet and crimson wax seals respectively, are available at the cellar and nationally at specialised wine merchants and restaurants, and retail between are available at the cellar and nationally at specialised wine merchants and restaurants, and retail between R310 and R340 per bottle.
WELGEGUND HERITAGE WINES
Welgegund, meaning “well-bestowed”, is the perfect title for this heritage estate nestled at the foot of the magnificent Hawequa mountains at the end of an oak-lined cul-de-sac in Wellington. Visitors don’t have to venture far to experience the fruits of its blessings: a place of natural beauty, heritage buildings dating back to the early 1800’s and a unique fingerprint of terroir and climate.
A scenic 50-minute drive from Cape Town, Welgegund is a must for connoisseurs and wine lovers. Wine and olive tastings that showcase the intense deliciousness of this estate’s produce can be enjoyed by appointment only. Take the time and make an appointment. It’s well worth it!Welgegund Wine Farm, 119 Berg Street, Wellington, South Africa Tel: 021 873 2123 · Email: emathews@welgegund.co.za Website: https://www.welgegund.co.za/ · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welgegundwines/ Twitter: @WelgegundWines Instagram: @Welgegund_wines #WelgegundWines
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