L'Avenir Wine Estate Grand Vin Pinotage 2008
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L’Avenir is situated in South Africa’s most renowned premium wine region, Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch has long been known for its diverse terroir, influenced by four prominent mountains. L’Avenir is located on the slopes of one of these four mountains, the Simonsberg Mountain, and sits on a geological vein comprised of decomposed shale. It was this unique terroir that led the Cape’s earliest European settlers to identify L’Avenir estate as one of the very first sites for grape growing back in the late 1600’s.
L’Avenir’s distinctive terroir, along with low-yielding, old vines on the estate are a cornerstone of L’Avenir’s winemaking. This combination plays a significant role in the ageablity and fruit intensity of the Pinotage, the iconic red grape from South Africa. L’Avenir’s Chenin Blanc, considered South Africa’s signature white grape, is sourced from their Certified Heritage Vineyard which is part of the South African Old Vine Project.
Aptly named, L’Avenir means future in French, as this unique boutique winery swiftly gained recognition for its distinctive Pinotage and Chenin Blanc produced by renowned winemaker, Francois Naudé. Today, visionary winemaker Dirk Coetzee leads the production team in honing the winery’s focus on their distinctive vineyards by creating Single Block releases of Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
South Africa’s signature grape, Pinotage is a distinctively earthy and rustic variety. In 1924 viticulturists crossed finicky Pinot Noir and productive, heat-tolerant Cinsault, and created a variety both darker and bolder than either of its parents! Today it is popular in South Africa both as a single varietal wine and in Cape blends. Somm Secret—The name “Pinotage” is a subtle portmanteau. The Pinot part is obvious, but the second half is a bit confusing. In the early 1900s, Cinsault was known in South Africa as “Hermitage”—hence Pinotage.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.