Misterie

"A mystery is an enigma, something miraculous and unexplainable with a hint of secrecy. Great fine wine is just the same." The soils and climate on the Helderberg are perfect for Merlot - poor soils on ridges, decomposed granite with clay subsoil rich in iron, the kind of profile that shows similarities to the best parcels in Bordeaux's Pomerol, the wines of which Misterie loosely compares with. The grapes for Misterie are farmed biodynamically and no stone is left unturned in the production of the fruit. The single-vineyard block sits on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. The vineyard sits in the Helderberg Ward, the coolest pocket of Stellenbosch; cool day-breezes off False Bay and cold night air falling down the mountain give even ripening and good natural acidity. The two vineyards within the block are meticulously hand-tended. Crops are selected and reduced to ensure maximum quality. Biodynamic and organic practices are followed - no herbicides or chemical sprays in the production of these grapes. In the winery, "soft hands" preserve the wine's natural lusciousness; fermentation occurs naturally. The wine is matured in 80% new French oak barrels for twenty-four months, then bottled and aged in bottle for at least another twenty-four months before release. The long bottle age before release is the heart of the Misterie program - the wine arrives at the table already integrated.