Du Toit Jnr, Kloovenburg, Riebeek Kasteel

ASSOCIATED with the Catalonia region surrounding the city of Barcelona in northeastern Spain as well as the Languedoc in southern France, the black grape variety Lledoner Pelut (aka Garnacha) is a mutation of Grenache Noir. Planted in South Africa for the first time at Kloovenburg outside the Swartland town of Riebeek Kasteel, it was used to make wine for the first time in 2022, when the vines were just four years old, with the maiden vintage released onto the market in 2023.

As proprietor of the estate Pieter du Toit reflects on the back label, his “boys” were “never afraid to try something new”. And “along with their [ad]venturous spirit came the responsibility to learn and grow together, contributing to our endeavours to keep innovating with new cultivars.” Facing up to global warming, we’re told.

Now if we can just master the pronunciation: loo da nay peh lu?

KLOOVENBURG LLEDONER PELUT 2022
WO Swartland. High-density bush vines; single vineyard planted in 2018. Grapes hand-picked, with 60% destemmed before fermentation, 40% fermented as whole bunches. Natural fermentation (wild yeast) in open-top tanks. Light punch-downs, and the wine left on the skins for seven days after fermentation, completed in used oak barrels. 10 months in barrel before bottling.
Alc 14.9 | RS 2.8 | TA 4.9 | pH 3.6
Producers’ Tasting Notes: Light purple; rose-petal and dried-herb on the nose; cherry and strawberry on the palate.
Food Pairing Recommendations: lean meat dishes (lamb, venison, turkey); poached salmon; braised duck; savoury vegetarian dishes.
R199pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel

Also in this series:
• AA Badenhorst Sout van die Aarde Palomino
• Ayama Vermentino
• Bosman Nero (d’Avola)
• DaschBosch Avon Clairette Blanche
• Diemersdal Grüner Veltliner
• Lemberg Hárslevelü
• Lowerland Tolbos Tannat
• Lozärn Carménère
• Newton Johnson Albariño
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Ltd Release Therona