Idiom Wines Release Their Heritage Series
Tuesday, 26 March, 2013
Idiom Wines
The Bottega family are proud to announce the release of their Heritage Series by Idiom. The range consists of three wines, offering the consumer an opportunity to experience Italian cultivars produced in the Cape terroir at an affordable price.
The wines are:
- Bianco di Stellenbosch 2012 – Pinot Grigio
- Rosso di Stellenbosch 2010 – a blend of Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Barbera and Primitivo
- Super Rosso di Stellenbosch 2009 – a blend of Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Proprietor of Idiom wines and creator of the Heritage Series concept, Roberto Bottega says, “In Italy, it is common for winemakers to refer to their more accessible releases as the ‘Rosso di…’ or ‘Red from..’ and then add their appellation to give a sense of place. Here we are dealing with a family with Italian origin, Italian varietals, and Cape terroir, so we coined the phrase ‘di Stellenbosch’ as all grapes used in the Heritage Series are either grown on the Bottega Family farm, Da Capo Vineyards, which is located in the Helderberg basin, the southernmost part of the WO Stellenbosch region, or are sourced from other Stellenbosch growers of Italian varietals.”
The Rosso di Stellenbosch is a bright, red colour with perfumed aromas of pomegranate, sweet and sour cherries and Prosciutto. Bottega adds, “the Rosso di Stellenbosch was actually made in 2011 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy (1861-2011). It happens to be a blend of the four red Italian varietals grown on our family farm but also is symbolic of the coming together of the different wine making regions of Tuscany, Piedmont and Puglia under the Italian Unification umbrella.” The wine shows both a fruity and a savoury note on the palate, which is due to a delicate maturing process in 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. The Rosso was the inspiration for and original wine of the Series and is a medium bodied red wine, with good acidity and a dry finish typical of Italian varietals.“
The Super Rosso di Stellenbosch is, as its name may indicate, a play on the Italian Super Tuscan wines from Tuscany,” explains Bottega,“the Super Tuscan blends typically consist of a Sangiovese base, with percentages of either, or both, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot added.” The medium-bodied 83% Sangiovese component, which brings fresh fruit and good acidity to the wine, is given structure and stature by addition of the barrique aged Cabernet Sauvignon, whilst the Merlot offers a lovely velvety depth to the wine, making this a true Super Rosso blend. Enticing aromas of cherries and dark chocolate are found on the nose, whilst hints of redcurrants, fruits of the forest and salami follow on the palate. The Super Rosso di Stellenbosch is an elegant wine with a long lingering finish.
The matching Bianco di Stellenbosch, which completes the Heritage Series line up, is the most recent addition to the range and the maiden 2012 release is made from 100% Pinot Grigio, and is a pale, straw-yellow colour. Delicate floral aromas, typical of Pinot Grigio, are found on the nose, whilst the palate shows elegant flavours of pear, green melon and pineapple. Bottega says, “ We experimented slightly, and blended some pressed juice back into the wine so as to create a more weighty, well balanced mid-palate. The wine has good structure, yet keeps the delicate aromas, flavours and intricacies associated with Pinot Grigio wine. Finally there is still good, but not excessive acidity, and the wine should prove to be a worthy alternative to Sauvignon Blanc!”
The Heritage Series wines are available by the glass in select Italian eateries in the Cape and Gauteng, such as the Mastrantonio restaurants, Carne SA, 95 Keerom and Caffe Milano. The wines retail direct from the cellar for R75 a bottle for the Bianco and Rosso and R90 a bottle for the Super Rosso. Call 021 852 3590 for more info.