Elgin Vintners is situated in the beautiful Elgin Valley, completely surrounded by mountains. Just 70km from Cape Town, it is rapidly gaining a reputation for the production of premium quality wines. It is wrapped by orchards, picturesque vineyards and sloping pasture.
The word ‘Vintner’ means ‘wine merchant’. The name reflects the cooperative origins and history of the farm that is made up of a partnership of 6 family winegrowers.
Their trademark striking orange bottlenecks are inspired by the brilliant Pincushion Protea flowers that frame the vineyards. The tasting room can be found in the farm’s homestead, Ridgelands.
Need a home away from home? This is the perfect place for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. This wonderful historic home has three luxury en-suite bedrooms and a family wing with two luxury bedrooms sharing a bathroom. There is DStv, Wi-Fi Internet access and tea and coffee facilities. The house is also kitted with board games, tennis rackets and ball, boules set, croquet, cricket bat and balls and braai facilities.
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017
A Sauvignon Blanc that makes you sit up and take notice – rich and complex, displaying the best of each of the selected vineyard blocks. Upfront and enticing tropical fruits on the nose – prominent granadilla together with some pawpaw, grapefruit and fennel aromas. On the palate this Sauvignon Blanc delivers on expectation revealing a power-packed bomb of fresh fruit flavours with a flinty finish.
Powerful yet chiseled on the palate with outstanding body and an excellent concentration of fruit. As is so typical with Elgin Sauvignon Blanc, this wine drinks extremely well now but is expected to mature with added complexity in bottle over the next few years.
CHARDONNAY 2014
The nose leads with white stone fruit, minerality, and the lemon and limey notes that we have come to associate with Elgin Chardonnays. A broad, rich palate on which citrus explodes in your mouth combined with some fresh kiwi fruit flavours, nicely balanced with a lively fruit acidity and subtle wooding lend a satisfying, lengthy and textured finish to this Chardonnay. Whilst it shows much poise and elegance at present, this wine will reward you with further careful and patient maturation.
The Elgin Vintners is a partnership of six dedicated grape growers in the Elgin Valley. They believe in the excellence of the Elgin terroir and diversity of their vineyards. Having combined their resources they cultivate, produce and market their range of fine quality wines. The cool, gentle climate of the Elgin Valley allows the grower to implement viticultural practices suited to ripening grapes slowly; ensuring phenolic and physiological ripeness.
THE CENTURY 2016
The wine leads with inviting aromas of pear drops, mango, fennel and ripe figs with a subtle touch of waxy lanolin imparted by the inclusion of Semillon. “Wow factor” entry onto the palate where luxurious sun-ripened golden delicious apples and quince inter-twine with an oyster shell mineral core, a generous creaminess and harmonious acidity. A satisfying wine, displaying textured layers of fruit which linger indulgently. Whilst this wine drinks extremely well now it is expected to develop even greater complexity with further maturation.
60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon, the wine was named in honour of Douglas Moodie, who reached 100 years in September 2011. Douglas was the father of Elgin Vintners shareholder Alistair Moodie. An 18-year-old Douglas was famed for riding his bicycle from Cape Town to Elgin for an interview to manage the farm, then known as Eikenhof. He got the job, and was such a hard-working employee to the childless owners of the property that he eventually inherited it. The wine is both bold and elegant as acts as Elgin Vintners “flagship” offering. Thankfully for us, only 165 cases are produced.
PINOT NOIR 2016
Clear, bright garnet in colour with plush aromas of red cherries, strawberries, some fine herbal notes and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Fruit forward, generous red cherries and a touch of meatiness follows on the palate. This wine reveals a complex and well-rounded mouthfeel with a persistent, lingering and smooth finish. The judicious use of 22% new oak respects the balance between fruit and tannin.
The wine is both complex and sophisticated and ticks all the boxes for versatile appreciation – enjoy with food or serve by the glass. We recommend that this Pinot Noir is served slightly chilled for maximum appreciation.
MERLOT 2015
Deep ruby velvet in colour with an exotic nose combining red plums, black berries, blueberries, violets, cardamom and walnuts that follows though onto the palate. Silky tannins combined with a rich purity of fruit and somewhat savoury finish distinguish this seamless wine as a great ambassador for Merlot from the cool climate Elgin region.
The wine was added to French oak barrels where it matured for 20 months. The new wood component was 20%. Approximately 6.5% Malbec was blended into the final barrel selection in order to further enhance the texture and complexity of the wine.
SYRAH 2015
Deep opulent ruby red in colour. Expressive, upfront fruit-driven nose of luscious ripe red plums, redcurrants and a touch of star anise. A rich and broad entry onto the palate with a lashings of ripe red fruits and blackcurrants with some savoury notes well supported by a spicy core.
Shows good integration of fruit and wood tannins and finishes with a rich and rewarding spiciness. Drinks beautifully now but is also expected to develop further complexity with additional bottle maturation.
Guests can enjoy the beautiful farm, take the walking trails along the Palmiet River or relax in the English country garden next to the swimming pool. Vineyard tours and wine tastings are also available to do on the farm while visiting.
The swimming pool is open to all visitors to the farm and if you are planning on spending the day with a picnic on the lawn be sure to bring along tennis rackets or mountain bikes to experience the whole farm!
Categories: Elgin Valley, Elgin Vintners
