PRIVATE BIN CHARDONNAY

VARIETAL: Chardonnay

DESCRIPTION: The grapes for this wine were harvested from the cool Durbanville area and the high southern slopes facing the sea in the Paarl area.

Harvested at full ripeness, the grapes were crushed immediately, with the free- run juice being kept separate for the production of this wine. It was subsequently fermented in new 300-litre French oak barrels and kept on the lees for five months with regular stirring. The wine was then racked and allowed a further eight months of barrel maturation before bottling. This complex treatment allowed for the creation of a deliciously rich wine with a deep golden colour.

Vanilla, butter and nuts mingle well on the nose with butterscotch. The full palate is enhanced by a good creaminess and subtle fruit flavours.

An impressive food wine, serve Nederburg Chardonnay Private Bin with soup, creamy sauces and mild spicy dishes.

PRIVATE BIN SAUVIGNON BLANC

VARIETAL: Sauvignon Blanc

DESCRIPTION: The Nederburg Private Bin range exemplifies the belief of the modern day founder of Nederburg, Johann Georg Graue that “good wine starts in the vineyard.” This is still the philosophy today. The grapes for the Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin 2003 were selected from the best terroir and cooler slopes in Darling, Durbanville and Paarl. Each batch of grapes was treated reductively, vinified separately and processing was kept to a minimum. Varietal purity subsequently ranges from intense herbaceous, gooseberry notes to exotic passion fruit and peach flavours. The so-called ‘greener’ flavours are derived from the Darling fruit, the tropical fruit flavours arise from the Paarl fruit, while a combination of these flavours are present in the fruit harvested from Durbanville.

Generous on the palate, the wine has a splendid mouth feel and elegant dry finish where the fruit and crisp acid are in perfect balance. The wine is drinking well now, but will also improve over the next couple of months after time in the bottle.

The 2003 Nederburg Sauvignon blanc Private Bin serves as the perfect companion to seafood and creamy fish or chicken dishes, veal, asparagus or any white foods.

PRIVATE BIN SHIRAZ

VARIETAL: Shiraz

DESCRIPTION: The Private Bin label is reserved for specialist, vineyard-selected, limited-edition wines that are hand-made and while classically styled, exhibit prominent fruit flavours.

The grapes were sourced from dryland, trellised vineyards in Durbanville and Stellenbosch, all 10 years old at the time of picking.

In each instance the fruit was picked at 25°Balling with each block individually vinified. The grapes were fermented on the skins for an average of 10 days and then given additional skin contact of five days. The free run wine was kept separate from the pressed wine, all fermented in small tanks, manually pumped over. Once spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred the wine was transferred to wood, where it was racked regularly over the 24 month maturation period. It was aged in a combination of French (80%), Hungarian and American barrels, all new.

Cellarmaster Razvan Macici says the wine’s smoky, spicy nose laced with berry opens onto ripe fruit, floral and spicy flavours on the palate, with a subtle presence of oak.

Its firm but supple tannins, he says, give the wine excellent maturation potential and it can be expected to hold its own for at least 10 to 12 years.

He recommends serving with it with mildly spicy dishes to echo its own spicy flavours.

PRIVATE BIN CABERNET SAUVIGNON

VARIETAL: Cabernet Sauvignon

DESCRIPTION: The Private Bin label is reserved for specialist, vineyard-selected, limited-edition wines that are hand-made and while classically styled, exhibit prominent fruit flavours.

The grapes were sourced from two prime wine growers in the Vlottenburg area outside Stellenbosch, whose vines are located in high lying areas, cooled by afternoon sea breezes.

The fruit was picked at 24,5°Balling with each block individually vinified. The grapes were fermented on the skins for an average of 10 days and then given additional skin contact of five days. The free run wine was kept separate from the pressed wine, all fermented in small tanks, manually pumped over. Once spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred the wine was transferred to wood, where it was racked regularly over the 24 month maturation period. It was aged in a combination of French (80%), Hungarian and American barrels, all new.

Cellarmaster Razvan Macici describes this as a powerful but velvety-textured wine with ripe berry and tobacco leaf scents and flavours of black currant, cassis and oak vanilla, supported by soft tannins.

He says it already approachable but has excellent maturation potential.

He recommends serving with robust red meat and game dishes

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Plaisir de Merle
Chardonnay Paarl 2003



Flashy style, with lots of fig, butter, pineapple and brioche aromas and flavors. Lush palate, with a soft, creamy finish. Could use a little more zip, but will certainly have fans. Drink now. 700 cases made. (JM)

Plaisir de Merle
Shiraz Paarl 2003



Ripe blackberry and cassis fruit with racy acidity and a minerally, smoky finish. Solid. Drink now through 2006. 1,000 cases made. (JM)

Nederburg 2003 Western Cape Pinotage
87 Points

Saturated with plum and blueberry fruit, this smooth, smoky pinotage is soft and relatively light. Pair it with the dark meat of game birds or turkey.

2005 Nederburg
Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape
A Best Buy



This wine has a vegetal character, but tropical fruit flavors are just as dominant. Intense flavors and aromas, lively acidity and a warm finish make this an ideal match for oily foods. Imported by Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.

2003 Nederburg
Pinotage
Western Cape
A Best Buy



This ruby-red wine has a lot to offer. It offers vanilla, spice, Maraschino cherry and cola in the nose, while the palate is packed with more cherry, vanilla, a mild minerality and some lemon notes. It finishes smooth, with coffee and spice. Imported by Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.

2002 Nederburg
Shiraz
Western Cape
A Best Buy

On the nose, plum and juicy berry are joined by cocoa powder and vanilla. With ir, grilled meat aromas emerge. The palate starts out a bit sweet with vanilla, but quickly picks up fruit, spice and charred meat notes. All this in a package that is soft without being simple.