Abraham Perold Tributum 2018

This elegant Cape Blend overflows with the aromatic fruit sweetness of plums, sour cherries and black pepper. The structured palate and juicy tannins can be attributed to great balance between fruit concentration and oak integration. The finish is focused, yet lingers in a velvet mouthfeel.

Ahead of this challenging vintage, winter brought enough cold to break dormancy although drought conditions persisted. It was the third year in a row without groundwater recharge. The cool weather continued into spring and delayed bud break, which occurred without incident. Cooler nights and days with higher than long-term rainfall kept vine development on track. October and November saw higher rainfall, but not enough to make up the deficit while Southeaster winds during flowering had a variety of impacts. December and January were significantly warmer than 2017. Harvest also began five days later and was defined by small berries, low yields and big concentration. Despite the rollercoaster ride, harvest’s near-perfect timing produced great, elegant wines with full ripeness.

This wine is a blend of varieties from regions and sites that have consistently produced wines of outstanding quality and style. In making the Perold Tributum we set out to produce a wine that over time will be recognized as the ultra-premium benchmark in South Africa. Only the best varieties, regions and sites are therefore considered.

Our winemaking focuses on balanced structure, concentration and finesse. We utilize a combination of whole-berry fermentation and gentle pump-overs to ensure every bit of flavour is captured, with Pinotage taking priority.

For this specific wine, the bunches were handpicked and sorted to ensure only the best of each variety went into the blend. After fermentation, the most promising wines of each cultivar were chosen to mature further in barrel. After 12 months, the best wines were singled out again and aged another six. This wine is truly about selecting the best-of-the-best.

The wine was matured for 18 months in first-fill French oak barrels.

This wine can be savoured on its own or paired with hearty winter dishes such as oxtail and lamb shank.