Talana Hill, Royale 2022

Description

Stellenbosch property Talana Hill was established in 1988 under the stewardship of Vriesenhof’s Jan Boland Coetzee. It was acquired by Doug and Carolyn Smollan in 2021

TASTING NOTE
An intense deeply coloured wine.  Classic Cabernet Franc aromas of cigar box, damp earth and dried cherries combine with notes of cocoa powder to provide a complex nose. Finely textured, silky tannins feature on the palate, yet the wine remains tight-knit and should do so for many years to come. A persistent, savoury finish lends the wine freshness and is a sign of good maturation potential.

VINIFICATION
A blend of Cabernet Franc , Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the three varieties were harvested towards the end of February, and were separately vinified and matured before blending and bottling took place in February 2024.

Hand-picked into 20kg lug boxes and transported directly to the cellar for processing. The bunches were destemmed and hand-sorted before being pumped as whole berries to tank. The mash was inoculated with a neutral yeast, and total time on skins was approximately 27 days, during which time malolactic took place. After draining and pressing of the grapes, the wine was settled briefly before being transferred to barrel for maturation in one new 225L barrel and one 3 rd fill 225L barrel. Both French oak, medium toast, medium grain. The wine was racked three times during 22 months of barrel maturation, and was finally blended and filtered in preparation for bottling in February 2024.

Two barriques of this wine were made, yielding 550 bottles.

WINE ANALYSIS
ALC: 12,93%
RS: 1,9g/l
VA: 0,59g/l
pH: 3,41
TA: 5,5g/l
SO 2 : 13/68

Additional information

A delicious hearty dish pairs perfectly with this wine. The plush red fruit notes will beautifully complement meaty casseroles and a roast leg of lamb, enhancing the savory flavours of the meal with its elegance.