african royals range
We are proud to present to you the official wine of the South African Royal Families.
​Merlot – King Makhosonke II
Two very different vineyards in Stellenbosch supplied the fruit for this wine. The first site, 350m above sea level on the south-west facing slopes of the Polkadraai Hills area, provides bright and juicy fruit with good acidity, tannic weight and absolute fruit density on the palate. The second vineyard on the lower South Western slopes of Polkadraai Hills, offers Ribena Ripeness, generosity and length on the palate. Although soil types differ between the sites, they all have some form of decomposed granite lying over structured clay subsoil allowing for ample drainage and water retention when required
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Food Suggestions
When to Enjoy: Socialising with friends over a relaxed meal.
How to Serve: A nice cool 16° – 18°.
Our meal suggestions: Terrific with meaty fish such as Tuna or Salmon or with goat’s cheese on a wild mushroom and spinach salad or a tasty pizza. Delicious with chocolate/berry desert!
Technical Analysis
Winemaker – Hagen Viljoen
Main Variety – Merlot
Alcohol – 14.5 %vol
pH – 3.52
RS – 2.9 g/l
Total Acid – 5.5 g/l
Appellation – Stellenbosch
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Tasting Notes
Rich and generous with plush concentrated flavours of plums, chocolate and a combination of red and black cherries. Layers of red fruit, strawberries and hints of red cherries that cover the palate from start to finish. For those with a fondness for a softer yet full-bodied Merlot, then this is your investment wine – a wine that, with maturation, will reward you handsomely.
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Ageing Potential
Will reward you handsomely with some maturation between 3 –6 years.
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Blend Information
100% Merlot
R 240 .00
Chenin Blanc – Queen Sekhothali Mabhena
The wine is made from unirrigated 39 year old Chenin vines planted in 1981. The vines are South West to West facing and are grown in decomposed granite soils high up on the farm at 300m above sea level.
The grapes were whole bunched pressed and cold settled overnight, after which the juice was racked to barrel and a concrete egg for fermentation. Regular lees stirring was done for the first three months to add extra palate weight and creaminess to the wine. The wine remained on the gross lees for 9 months before being racked and blended for bottling with the final blend having 10% concrete egg, 10% new 500L French Oak, 20% second fill and 60% in third and fourth fill barrels.
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Food Suggestions
Delectable with fish and shellfish, poultry and dishes with creamy sauces. A versatile wine so make your own best pairing.
Technical Analysis
Winemaker – Hagen Viljoen
Main Variety – Chenin Blanc
Alcohol – 13.34 %vol
pH – 3.41
RS – 2.7 g/l
Total Acid – 5.5 g/l
Appellation – Stellenbosch
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Tasting Notes
A clear and bright wine with hints of lime and gold. The nose has aromas of apricot, yellow peach and quince that follows through onto the palate with undertones of pineapple and citrus. The creamy texture of the palate is supported by subtle oak flavours and a minerality that is underpinned with bright and juicy acidity.
This wine is vegetarian and vegan. Closure with a cork and wax covering
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Ageing Potential
Chenin is a wine that develops and deepens both in color and aroma over time. As such it rewards extra complexity with age, while offering up-front fruit and freshness in its youth.
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Blend Information
100% Chenin Blanc
R 235.00
Cabernet Sauvignon – Paramount Chief Moremoholo Motebang Mopeli
The wine is classic and elegant and at the same time bold and full-bodied with intense aromas of black bramble berries and black currant with a hint of blueberries. Oak aromas are well integrated and add to the complexity of the wine with underlying graphite and cigar box notes. Dark blackberry and plum flavours dominate the palate, followed by hints of dark chocolate. A firm yet well-integrated tannin structure and lingering finish.
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Food Suggestions
When to Enjoy: A rich and full wine to enjoy relaxing around the fire or with a scrumptious meal.
Our Meal suggestions: Zevenwacht Cabernet Sauvignon, classic and elegant in style, yet so rich, integrated and layered with wholesome flavours and mouthfeel. It is, therefore, best with aged prime rib or T-bone steak, medium rare – olive oil and mustard seed rump served with a peasant salad (everything except the leaves) or a hearty oxtail. Non-meat options can prevail too, such as black bean stew but don’t be limited by these ideas. Wine is most enjoyed – your way.
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In The Vineyard
The grapes for the 2015 vintage come from 2 underlying vineyards, all on west south-west facing slopes. We crafted this wine from 10-year-old vines. Both vineyards are at an altitude from 100–150m above sea-level. The situation of these blocks offers maximum exposure to the cooling sea breezes from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, keeping the vines and their fruit cool during the warmer days of the ripening period. In turn, this allows for the maximum flavour, colour and tannin development. The vines are trellised on a seven-wire hedge system and receive only supplementary drip irrigation.
The grapes were picked at 25.5 Brix, sorted with our Pellenc sorting table and lightly crushed into 10-ton open-top fermenters.
Technical Analysis
Winemaker – Hagen Viljoen
Main Variety – Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol – 14.0 %vol
pH – 3.58
RS – 2.5 g/l
Total Acid – 5.4 g/l
Appellation – Stellenbosch
Accolades
Top 100 SA Wines – Silver award
Ageing Potential
Superb to drink now but excellent aging potential 5 – 15 years
Blend Information
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
R 240.00
Chardonnay – Queen Mother Mathokoana
The Chardonnay grapes are planted on some of the best South West facing slopes of the Polkadraai Hills. The two vineyards are lying at altitudes that range from 200-320 meters above sea level; these higher South West facing elevated slopes tend to give wines beautiful natural acidity, resulting in a pleasant pungency and longevity. The richness and full-bodied fruit has been accentuated by the open canopies of the vineyards during ripening. All these flavours are backed with a minerality from the decomposed granite soils of the Polkadraai Hills.
The Chardonnay grapes were harvested at 22.7-23,6ºBrix.
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Food Suggestions
When to enjoy: A wine to savour with lunch or dinner.
How to serve: Chilled
Our meal suggestions: Delicious with full flavoured grilled fish and avocado salad or chicken fillets dressed with a creamy sauce. A versatile wine for you to be creative with.
Technical Analysis
Winemaker – Hagen Viljoen
Main Variety – Chardonnay
Alcohol – 14% %vol
pH – 3.32
RS – 1.7 g/l
Total Acid – 6.1 g/l
Appellation – Stellenbosch
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Accolades
2018 Vintage
2019 Prescient Chardonnay Report – 91 Points
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Tasting Notes
This Chardonnay has superb and distinctive aromas of citrus and pear with a subtle oak aroma of roasted almonds. The palate is both rich and refreshing with a combination of lime-citrus and white pear flavours. The wine is classically dry, yet luxuriously silky with superb viscosity and length.
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Ageing Potential
The wood maturation gives it potential to develop over 3-5 years
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Blend Information
100% Chardonnay