RIJK'S - Touch of Oak - Pinotage 2017
Rijk's is a winery located in Tulbagh, South Africa, east of the Atlantic Ocean with a Mediterranean climate. The Tulbagh Valley is surrounded by a mountain range reaching heights of 1,995 meters. Rijk's was established in honor of Rijk Tulbagh, Governor of Cape Town from 1751 to 1771. However, it was not until 1996 that wine production began under the influence of Neville Dorrington, food lover and collector of good wines. He discovers 137 hectares of virgin soils that have never been cultivated with slopes facing north, south, east and west and analysis of vertical shale soils has revealed the potential for a crop of low-yielding, high-quality vines. The following year, 14 hectares of vines were planted, followed by another 12 hectares in 1998. At the time, different grape varieties were cultivated: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Shiraz and Pinotage, to experiment with which ones are best suited to the climate. The first grapes were harvested in 2000 and after 12 years Neville Dorrington learned about the natural environment, the taste and flavours of the wines produced and decided to focus on the varieties best suited to the farm and the soil: Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Shiraz. In 2016, Tiger Dorrington, son of Neville, joined the farm as head of Sales and Marketing. The Dorrington family have always shared the dream of becoming a true South African estate and therefore opened the Rijk’s Hotel in the wine estate.
Rijk’s Touch of Oak is made with Pinotage (a crossing of Cinsault and Pinot Noir). A 48-hour cold maceration period was given prior to fermentation to extract colour and fruit. The extraction during fermentation took place by pumping the juice over the skins 3 times per day. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels and the wine matured for 18 months in 25% 2nd fill, 50% 3rd fill and 25% 4th fill French oak barrels.
Grape variety: 100% Pinotage
