"BLUE ROCKS"
The vineyards of Blaauwklippen roll over hills to the steep mountain slopes. These majestic mountains of Stellenbosch exude a gentle blue-ish hue, the fountainhead for the estate's name.
Blaauwklippen was one of the first farms to be awarded in Stellenbosch over 300 years ago. In 1682, Simon van der Stel granted 50 morgen of wilderness on the foothills of what is today Stellenbosch to Gerrit Visser, a potter from Germany. Soon, the densely forested virgin land rang with the sound of axes clearing the fields to plant the farm's first vines. Today, the estate resounds with the roar of bulldozers uprooting the old to make way for the new: all the while preserving the historic heritage with integrity in a wholesome and genuine atmosphere.
More than three centuries later, the farm is once more owned by Germans. The München based Schörghuber Corporate Group had a clear vision for Blaauwklippen in the world wine market when they acquired the estate in 1999. Their involvement with the farm has concentrated the future on production of premium red wines. Situated on prime west- and south-facing slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain, Blaauwklippen's vineyards are blessed with exceptional soil and climatic conditions. This is red wine country par excellence, with remarkable altitude variation allowing for different styles of wine to be produced and natural blends to be created.
To achieve the metamorphosis to a predominantly red wine estate, a comprehensive analysis of the estate's soil and micro-climatic conditions was commissioned. This lead to the identification of vineyard sites most suited to the planting of specific red varieties, and in the process, the uprooting of a number of white vineyards. By the end of 2005, 80% of the estate's vineyards will be red grape varieties.
During 2000, some 62 acres were re-planted with red varieties, including 28 acres of Cabernet sauvignon, 15 acres of Shiraz and 19 acres of Merlot. The year 2001 brought more changes as white varieties such as Muscat Ottonel and Rhine Riesling were up-rooted in favour of red varieties such as Zinfandel.
Blaauwklippen's zinfandel, planted in the mid-1970s on approximately 26 acres, is neither trellised nor irrigated. The wine soon became the signature label for the estate, winning many awards and succeeding in Californian competitions. Characterized by deep, velvety red fruits, Blaauwklippen's zinfandel exudes gentle complexity with a dash of cranberry in the finish.
Rolf Zeitvogel qualified at Weinsberg College in Germany. With many years experience in the wine industry (both in Europe and in South Africa), he regards his position as winemaker at the "new" Blaauwklippen as an exciting challenge:
"The estate was renowned for its excellent reds in the 1980's when a glittering string of accolades lauded their quality. Now all wheels have been set in motion to restore Blaauwklippen's wines to their former glory."
Well known and liked in South Africa, Blaauwklippen is noted for producing quality wines with wide appeal. The significant resources expended in the pursuit of excellence with new vineyards and cellar facilities and a fresh approach to crafting world-class wines have yielded superb results. The rewards are beginning to show with 3 and 4 star ratings from South Africa's wine bible: John Platter's Wine Guide.
Introduced in 1983, Blaauwklippen's Blending Competition offers wine enthusiasts the exciting opportunity to blend their own wines from selected Blaauwklippen reds. An expert panel of judges selects the annual winners. The 2000 competition elicited enthusiastic response with the winning blend becoming a stable in Blaauwklippen wine line-up: Barouche. Proceeds from the sale of this winner, Barouche Cape Blend, go toward the pre-primary school on the estate's grounds.
While the baby vines are happily settling in their new terroir, Blaauwklippen's young people are being nurtured at the estate's kindergarten. Located in an historic building under the oaks, the Blaauwklippen pre-school nursery was established to provide a safe haven for employee's children. Three dedicated daymothers are charged with the very important task of keeping the estate's 23 toddlers and 3 babies safe and happy. However, keeping toddlers between the ages of 3 and 6 year stimulated and preparing them for the Big World is not always that simple. That's why the three daymothers are presently enrolled in a training course, run by the Centre for Integrated Rural Development. The curriculum is aimed at equipping them with specialized skills in the running of a pre-school while weekly lectures also focus on the teaching of arts and crafts and basic life skills such as hygiene and road safety. In the foreseeable future, the pre-school nursery will be upgraded to a fully accredited pre-primary school.
While Blaauwklippen, with 40 000 cases, is the largest producer in our portfolio, it remains quaint with a rustic charm and traditional hospitality. The estate has a museum quality yellowwood tables and riempie chairs amid other antique furniture and Cape kitchen items. Behind the pony corral, you'll find the old carriage museum and vintage cars for the enthusiast. The collection includes Cape carts, gigs, and a horse-drawn bus that operated between Stellenbosch and Cape Town until 1905. The two graceful landau's from 1833 and 1834 have given their name to two popular blends: the White Landau (usually a chardonnay/sauvignon blanc blend) and the Red Landau (usually cabernet sauvignon, merlot and zinfandel). For anyone visiting the estate, this is THE place to enjoy lunch:.sit in the garden in summer or next to the cozy fire in winter.
|
BVS Zinfandel 2004 Reserve
Be Very Selective or Blaauwklippen Vineyard Select your choice! A rich and concentrated version of Blaauwklippen's signature wine, the BVS Zinfandel bursts a deep black cherry nose with whiffs of smoky vanilla and scents of violets. A ripe fruit compôte on the palate complemented by supple tannins and an intense, slightly sweet raspberry and cranberry finish with doses of white pepper. Blaauwklippen Zin is not an "in-your-face-zin", it is a Zin for food ... with a subtle and complex character that provides the right balance and interest ... and that intensifies throughout the meal.
The zinfandel grapes grow on bush vines (neither trellised nor irrigated) and were planted in 1976 on the southern slopes of the estate, which is in heart of Stellenbosch.
The grapes were fully ripe and in a very healthy condition when harvested at an average yield of 2.8 tons per acre. The juice spent 14 - 20 days on extended skin contact, and then matured for 24 months in a mixture of new and second-fill American white oak and French Nevers oak barriques.
|
|
