Situated in
the lush, plentiful Elgin Valley, nestled between majestic mountains on the
western boundary and the Palmiet River flowing on the east, Shannon Vineyards,
owned by brothers Stuart and James Downes, has released a limited production of
its 2012 Pinot Noir Noble Late Harvest, named ‘Macushla’.
The name
The word ‘Macushla’
is an Irish term of affection meaning 'my darling', derived from the Gaelic a chuisle mo chroí (translated as ‘pulse
of my heart’), often shortened to the more endearing ‘mo chuisle’ (my pulse).
In perfect synchronicity with its name, the delightful Macushla promises to ‘up
the pulse rate’ and ‘make the heart skip a beat’.
Both the name of the farm and this novel, innovative
‘darling’ of a wine, pay homage to the Downes brothers’ Irish ancestry in that
the significance of the name ‘Shannon’ is two-fold: it eponymously alludes to
both the owners’ forefathers (the Shannon and Downes families), who hailed from
Ireland’s County Cork, and it also carries the prestigious name of the ‘Emerald
isle’s’ longest and widest river, the River Shannon.
The
story
Besides encapsulating the family’s rich Irish
legacy, the seductively charming Shannon Macushla also tells another story of a
fortuitous and serendipitous discovery. Two rows of Shannon Vineyards’ pinot
noir, allocated for cap classique, were not harvested, and rendered forgotten.
To his pleasant surprise, James Downes chanced upon these vines laden with
perfectly botrytised grapes. In true James Downes style, he began extensive and
meticulous research on the potential for producing an innovative creation, that
of making a noble late harvest wine from pinot noir grapes. Two
years later, 22 rows of
pinot noir at Shannon Vineyards were dedicated to making a sweet pinot, and the
maiden Macushla 2009 was born.
This
delicious Pinot Noir Noble Late Harvest is not produced every year – in fact,
2012 is only the second vintage release of this distinctive dessert wine. A proud James Downes, who affectionately refers
to this wine as ‘the pink sticky’, comments, “the Shannon Macushla is most
likely the first ever noble late harvest to be made from pinot noir in South
Africa – and perhaps even the world?”
The tasting notes
This
botrytised pinot noir dessert wine, with a delicate salmon pink hue, beguiling
fragrance and temptingly moreish fruity acids, re-defines this particular style
of wine. The sugar and acidity are in seamless, intricate balance, the fresh
red berry fruit is in perfect keeping with pinot noir, the palate has a
beautifully creamy strawberry character with a touch of spice, and the wine
finishes with a lingering acidity that delivers a refreshing, invigorating
lift. Macushla, with its dried fruit and candied
flavours and velvety viscosity, is the perfectly indulgent finale to a
delectable dinner, and is the ideal complement to a red berry pudding or a
cheese platter.
This
limited edition Macushla 2012 (with only three 3 barrels produced), packaged in
375ml bottles, is drinking beautifully now and will do so for another 10 years.
It retails for approximately R185.
Winemaker’s Comments
Expounding on why he selected="true"="true" this curious choice
of dessert wine, James Downes explains, “Although pinot noir is an
unusual choice for this dessert wine, the thin-skinned characteristic of the
grape lends itself well to this method of winemaking, being conducive to the
influence of botrytis. And the Elgin
Valley has some of the best growing conditions for pinot noir noble late
harvest wines.” He went on to say, “After having worked with pinot noir for
more than 14 years, I have found an affinity for the grape and am curious as to
why there hasn’t been further experimentation with pinot in the production of
these dessert wines.”
The Elgin Valley
This bountiful valley, which
has long been regarded as the apple and pear centre of South Africa, is
developing a noteworthy reputation for the production of outstanding wines.
These cool-climate wines are characterised by their rich mineral undertones and
complemented by good natural acidity, displaying an elegance that has its
origins in the uniquely cool terroir.
Some of the country's most highly regarded winemakers have established
vineyards in the Elgin Valley, which is testament to its obvious winemaking
potential.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The vineyards and the cellar
Situated against the Koeël
Mountains, the Shannon vineyards are situated in the ‘table cloth’ zone of the
‘Black Southeaster’, which blows relentlessly in the summer months, lowering
day and night-time temperatures. The Palmiet River, the farm’s eastern
boundary, creates the cooling ‘morning mist effect’ caused by cold mountain
water flowing in overnight. This effect is aesthetically portrayed on the
Shannon Vineyards Macushla
label, and reflected by the swirling design of their logo.
In Elgin, the tendency is
to harvest pinot noir in late February and early March, but James and his team took
the opportunity to let the grapes hang for the remainder of March and into the
first week of April, gaining the extra concentration from botrytis. The grapes were harvested in 12kg
picking crates, with an average sugar level of 38.2°B, and then chilled for 12 hours at 3°C. They were then transferred by hand
into a pneumatic press and whole-bunch pressed over a period of three hours.
The juice was then allowed to settle for 48-72 hours and then racked into
225-litre French oak barriques. Fermentation occurred naturally and no addition
was made to the wine except for the necessary sulphur dioxide. The fermentation
stopped spontaneously after approximately six weeks. The wine was matured in
barrel for 10 months.
Shannon Vineyards and the team
What sets Shannon Vineyards’ wines apart is the combination of an
exceptional setting in the Elgin Valley as the coolest wine-growing area along
South Africa's south coast, the high quality of its vineyards, meticulous
viticulture, and dedicated artisanal winemaking. The focus on adhering to sound viticulture
principles reflects the Downes brothers’ commitment to winemaking being an expression
of terroir. Making fine wines is their ongoing aspiration, and, to that end,
they have assembled a talented team who share their passion and deliver on
excellence. James Downes runs the
farm with conscientious attention to detail and his brother Stuart is the very
experienced marketing arm of the Shannon team. Winemaking is in the very
capable hands of Gordon Newton Johnson and his wife Nadia, of Newton Johnson
Vineyards’ fame, with whom the Downes have had a relationship spanning eight harvests.
The multi-level Newton Johnson cellar in the Upper-Hemel-en-Aarde Valley makes
use of all the latest gravitational engineering principles and grape-sorting
techniques, ensuring that the grapes benefit from minimal handling throughout
the winemaking process.
Shannon
Vineyards’ Wines
Shannon
Vineyards has also recently released new vintages of its three other highly
acclaimed site-specific wines:
=
Shannon
Vineyards Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2013, retailing for around R105;
=
Shannon
Vineyards Mount Bullet 2011, retailing at approximately R275. The Mount Bullet 2008 was awarded 5 Stars in the 2011 Platter’s Wine
Guide, becoming one of very few merlots ever to have achieved this pinnacle
recognition;
=
Shannon
Vineyards Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir 2012, retailing for about R250.
Shannon Vineyards is open for wine-tasting
by appointment only:
Tel: 021 859 2491 = Email: james@shannonwines.com
= Website: www.shannonwines.com