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summer 2011 IS HERE
2011 has sped by and in another 2 months Christmas will be upon us. The year was bumper filled with many new events, awards and wine shows as well as a new look label!
2011 saw the first Shiraz and Charcuterie event at Hartenberg. Known for producing outstanding Shiraz, winemaker Carl Schultz invited a selection of South Africa’s top Shiraz producers to this food and wine filled day. We are already looking forward to next year’s Shiraz and Charcuterie event!
Spring heralds the beginning of a new season and also the start of Tapas and Jazz at Hartenberg! The season kicked off on 24 September.
We are delighted to present the new look Hartenberg labels! The new label’s modern styling incorporates traditional Hartenberg elements such as the underground cellar door handle (the oldest door in South Africa) and reflects the outstanding quality and track record of the wines inside the bottle The 2007 Shiraz was the first wine to be released under a new label and over the next few months the old labels will be phased out with new releases.
Our premium range has also undergone a change. Same outstanding quality inside; new fresh look on the outside. Watch out for them as the new vintages come in with the new look label.
The Cape had an unusual winter which started well with very good rains in May and first part of June. July, traditionally the Cape’s wettest month, turned out to be one of the driest and warmest on record! Year to date rainfall is 25% down on the 48 year long term average for Stellenbosch, but spring looks as if it is going to be wet season. A mild, cool spring could set the stage for good aromatics in both reds and whites for the upcoming vintage.
At present the cellar is blending the 2010 Cab/Shiraz (we think the best vintage ever made - a cracker!) which will take all of a week. Our labeling program is ongoing and on the increase as seasonal sales pick up. In the next few weeks we will start to remove the 2010 premium reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz as their time in barrel comes to an end after having rested there for between sixteen and eighteen months. They will be prepared for bottling in October/November 2011. The 2011 Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are still soaking up the richness and flavours of the lees in their respective tanks and probably will remain sur lie till end of this year.
At this stage conditions are looking promising for vintage 2012. Bud-break has been uniform and consistent allowing for even ripening later. Young Chardonnay already has 10-15cm shoots and the visible crop looks good.
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AWARDS & RATINGS
Hartenberg wines were amongst over 600 wines tasted as part of a special report on South African wines in the August 2011 issue of The Wine Advocate as rated by American wine commentator Neal Martin, and seven wines were awarded 90+ points! Hartenberg’s reputation as one of South Africa’s top Shiraz producers was confirmed with the 90+ point ratings of all three Shiraz, from the popular Hartenberg Estate Shiraz to the upfront The Stork and iconic Gravel Hill. The top performer was the Estate Shiraz 2007 (92 points, highest score received since first production 40 years ago) described by Neal Martin as a “gorgeous, ravishing Shiraz to savour now and over the next 5-6 years.” Our flagship white, The Eleanor 2007, performed equally well with 91 points – “an excellent Stellenbosch Chardonnay”. The seven 90+ point wines follow in the footsteps of recent rating by USA wine publication, The Wine Enthusiast, which gave 90 points to three Hartenberg wines: The Mackenzie 2006, The Stork 2007 and The Eleanor 2007. This was the third consecutive vintage of The Eleanor Chardonnay to receive a 90 point rating from this prestigious publication. With a track record spanning nearly 40 years, Hartenberg Shiraz enjoys an unmatched reputation for high-end quality and above all, consistency. The ability to age gracefully is a common thread that runs through all 37 vintages produced to date at Hartenberg with many of the older wines still drinking well after 20 and 30 years. For Carl Schultz, Hartenberg’s award winning winemaker of the past 18 years, this is the most finite measure of quality. MORE RATINGS New SAA listings: Shiraz 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and Chardonnay 2009. Look out for these wines on SAA flights (Premium Class). Veritas Awards: We are delighted to announce that we have won two Gold medals for the Weisser Riesling 2009 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 at the 2011 Veritas Wine Awards, South Africa's biggest and most prestigious wine competition. This is the second Gold medal this year for the gorgeously spicy, aromatic Hartenberg Weisser Riesling 2009 after it clinched a Gold medal at the prestigious 2011 Five Nations Wine Challenge in Australia. Highly regarded for superb Rieslings, Hartenberg also won a Museum Class Trophy with an impressive score of 94 points for the 1999 vintage at the 2011 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show earlier this year. |
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Cape Winemakers Guild Auction 2011
The Cape Winemakers Guild Auction 2011, which took place on Saturday 1 October, saw two Hartenberg offerings on auction. A third vintage of the Loam Hill Merlot was offered at the Auction. This parcel is at altitude and typically provides the Merlot for our Bordeaux Blend, The Mackenzie. Before we blend the rest of the parcel to our Estate Merlot we nip off two barrels to make this wine. The Auction Shiraz, 3 years in the making, was also offered and met high expectations by fetching the 3rd highest price for a red on the day! The Shiraz is a blend of two barrels of our flagship Gravel Hill Shiraz and a single barrel of Stork Shiraz. The former lends elegance and length whilst the latter adds richness and structure. Both the auction wines are from the fantastic 2009 vintage, described by some commentators as the best in thirty vintages in the Cape. The vintage offers intense, pure varietal aromatics and classic, elegant structure on the palate. The wines also show fine-grained tannins. Buyers of these two fine will be rewarded for many years to come! |
TAPAS & JAZZ
After a hiatus over winter it is again time for the ever popular Tapas and Jazz at Hartenberg! The first evening kicked off with The Jesse Jordan band, Saturday 24 September. The evenings will continue throughout summer on the last Saturday of each month.
29 October Natasha Meister
19 November 2011 Cape Dutch Connection
17 December 2011 Gerald Clark
14 January 2012 Manouche
Tickets are available from R150 per couple and includes a complimentary bottle of Hartenberg wine. A selection of delicious tapas, including cheese and charcuterie platters, home-made bread and patés is available from R10 – additional wine is available at discounted cellar-door pricing. Make up a platter to share while enjoying the vibey sounds of our featured band. Should the weather turn cool the event will move into our spacious underground cellar so, come rain or shine, join us for Tapas and Jazz! Pre-booking advisable, perfect for family and friends.
BOOK NOW for 29 October – Natasha Meister
Hartenberg recently hosted a trail run! More than 100 runners braved the lingering cold weather and joined us early Saturday morning for an invigorating run through the vineyards. Coffee and rusks and light breakfast were available afterwards. We’re planning on making this a regular event so contact us for more information on the next run!
Shiraz & Charcuterie and Riesling Rocks
The inaugural Shiraz and Charcuterie event held at Hartenberg in June was a great success! Producers included De Trafford, Kleinood, Boekenhoutskoof and many more. They were joined by the best local charcuterie masters, cheese makers and olive enthusiasts for a day filled with great food and wine. Keep an eye on our events calendar for the 2012 date of Shiraz and Charcuterie. The event was an expansion of the Shiraz and Charcuterie pairings on offer at Hartenberg cellar door. The pairings are available year round.
Hartenberg will host the Riesling Rocks festival on the 11th of February 2012. This is a must attend event if you are interested in Riesling – all of the Riesling producers in South Africa will showcase their wine paired with fine foods. Come with friends to enjoy this new, exciting festival – great wines, fine food and relaxed music!
With summer upon us it is time again for our delicious picnic lunches. Hartenberg picnics offer the best in local, seasonal produce and we’re also delighted to offer many home grown and hand-made items! Our kitchen has tested the best in traditional patés and chutneys during winter and will also offer baguettes from our own kitchen! From December until after Easter the picnics and lunches will be available 7 days a week.
We will shortly send out invites to our wine club – be sure to keep an eye out for the mail! Our wine club will offer more than just the usual special and discounted items. Hartenberg Wine Club will offer members exclusive opportunities to meet and learn from South Africa’s best chefs, give back to the community and become a real member of the Hartenberg Wine Team.
For more information please contact rachel@hartenbergestate.com.
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Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00 (lunch 12:00 - 14:30)
Saturday: 09:00 - 16:00 (lunch 12:00 - 14:00)
Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Phone: 021 865 2541
Email Us: info@hartenbergestate.com
Visit our website: www.hartenbergestate.com
