Clos Malverne Estate unveils latest flagship duo
Monday, 23 July, 2012
Clos Malverne
Family-owned Clos Malverne Wine Estate, renowned for its repertoire of fruit-driven, food friendly red wines stemming from vineyards in the Devon Valley outside Stellenbosch, has released the latest vintages of its flagship red wine duo - the multi-awarded Cape Blend, Auret 2010 and reputable Pinotage Reserve 2010.
"These latest additions prove that after more than 25 years of quality winemaking under its belt, Clos Malverne is an old hand when it comes to classic, elegant red wines of great complexity and exceptional maturation potential. There is simply no room for compromise on quality," shares winemaker Suzanne Coetzee, guardian of both Clos Malverne's vineyards and the cellar.
Once dubbed the Cape's smallest red wine cellar, Clos Malverne has come a long way from its fledging days in 1986 when the first wine was made under its own label - a mere 800 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon. However, over the years owner Seymour Pritchard has stayed true to a time-honoured winemaking tradition and today his cellar is one of the few wineries that still uses basket pressing, a gentle way of extracting grape juices commonly used in champagne production.
Gently basket-pressed grapes, harvested at optimal ripeness from prime vines on the estate have shaped the Clos Malverne Auret 2010 - an age worthy contribution of the outstanding qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Pinotage (30%), Merlot (9%) and Shiraz (5%). Its predecessor, the 2009 vintage, clinched a gold medal at the 2011 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine challenge held in Luxembourg.
The bold, well-structured Clos Malverne Auret 2010, which spent more than a year in French oak before it was bottled, unfolds dark berries at the fore uplifted with an underlying herbaceousness, revealing notes of liquorice and star anise. It has pleasantly dry tannins; a gritty texture, and the body and structure to improve with cellaring up to 2017.
In line with Clos Malverne's age-old, hand-made feel, the Pinotage Reserve 2010 with its dark plum hue, embodies all the qualities unique to this proudly South African varietal and bursts with delicious red and dark berries. It is a well-structured wine with a slight hint of sweeter oak spices and sensual roasted mocha aromas. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.
Suzanne describes the Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve 2010 as a 'serious red with awesome depth and length of concentrated Pinotage sweetness, set for collector's status'.
"My favourite grape varietal is Pinotage and fortunately Clos Malverne has an excellent track record when it comes to world-class Pinotage. We pride ourselves in quality consistency and one should never be nervous to open a 10 year old bottle of Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve for your friends," shares Suzanne.
Clos Malverne Auret 2010
Ideal food partners: Beef fillet with pecorino potato croquettes and truffle jus, rich oxtail, Beef Wellington or malva pudding with spicy mandarin ice cream.
Recommended retail price: R168 per bottle.
Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve 2010
Ideal food partners: Decadent chocolate puddings such as chocolate fondant and dark chocolate cheese cake.
Recommended retail price: R148 per bottle.
These wines are exclusive to the Clos Malverne cellar and the estate can deliver the wines straight to your doorstop via their online wine sales facility.