2021 Olifantsberg Roussanne

The Olifabntsberg Rousanne is a wine that captures the imagination and embodies the belief that this special place can produce wines with a very individual expression of this beautiful variety.

The Roussanne is grown at a high density (7500/ha) and on clay-shale-rich soils with a high content of quartz rock. The density creates competition forcing the plants to root deeper. The vineyards are planted at elevations extending from 300 to 480 meters above sea level located on the slope of the Olifantsberg. They pick at different ripeness levels to get the full range of flavor profiles Roussanne can give. The grapes are pressed in the whole bunch for a gentle extraction. Juice is settled in stainless steel tanks overnight. Sufficient fine lees are added to the clear juice during racking to provide sufficient texture in the finished wine. Natural fermentation further increases the complexity. A combination of 300 and 500 liter barrels of used oak is used

The Olifantsberg has seen its first light in the year 2020, so this is the 2nd year. We smell soft white floral aromas followed by an aromatic blend of coriander, ginger and sweet complexity. Nicely balanced acidity in combination with the creamy structure. The first vintage already got 94 points right away - Tim Atkin 2021 and 4.5 stars in Platter's South African wine guide 2022

ABOUT ELEPHANTSBERG

Olifantsberg Family Vineyards is less than an hour's drive from Cape Town, in the middle of South Africa's Breedekloof wine region. This small, five-hectare wine estate has been owned by the Dutch Leeuwerik family since 2003. The vineyards of Olifantsberg lie on the slopes of the Brandwacht Mountains. Thanks to the high altitude and the almost constantly blowing wind, there is a cool microclimate. Ideal conditions for the production of top quality grapes! The vineyard is worked with respect for nature. The vines are fertilized organically and the yield in the vineyard is deliberately kept low. All this with the aim of harvesting optimally ripe, healthy and concentrated grapes of high quality. After the manual harvest, these grapes are taken to the newly built vinification cellar. Here too, winemaker Elizma Visser lets nature do its work. After crushing the grapes, a traditional soaking of skins follows and the grapes are fermented. After this they are aged in oak barrels of which about a third is renewed every year. The wines of Olifantsberg are therefore perfectly balanced with nicely dosed oak in aroma and taste.