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B L A A U W K L I P P E N
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The vineyards of Blaauwklippen roll over the foothills of the Stellenbosch mountains and up the steep mountain slopes. These majestic mountains exude a gentle blue-ish hue, the fountainhead for the estate’s name. [Blaauw klippen : Blue cliffs]
Blaauwklippen was one of the first farms to be awarded in Stellenbosch over 300 years ago. In 1690, Simon van der Stel granted 50 morgen of wilderness on the foothills of what today is Stellenbosch to Gerrit Visser, a potter from Germany. Soon, the densely forested virgin land rang with the sound of axes clearing the fields to plant the farm’s first vines. Today, the estate resounds with the roar of bulldozers uprooting the old to make way for the new: all the while preserving the historic heritage with integrity.
More than three centuries later, the farm is once more owned by Germans; Munich-based Schorghuber Group. Their vision for Blaauwklippen when they acquired the estate in 1999 concentrated on the future production of premium red wines. Situated on prime west- and south-facing slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain, Blaauwklippen’s vineyards have remarkable altitude variation allowing for different varietals and styles of wine.
To achieve the metamorphosis to a predominantly red wine estate, a comprehensive analysis of the estate’s soil and micro-climatic conditions was commissioned. This led to the identification of vineyards sites most suited to the planting of specific red varieties, and in the process, the uprooting of a number of white vineyards. It is planned that by 2006, 80% of the estate’s vineyards will be red grape varieties. Thus far, some 78 acres have been replanted with 28 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 acres of Shiraz, 19 acres of Merlot and 16 acres of Zinfandel.
The estate was renowned for its excellent reds in the 1980’s when a string of accolades lauded their quality. Now all wheels have been set in motion to restore Blaauwklippen’s wines to their former glory. Well known and liked in South Africa, Blaauwklippen is noted for producing quality wines with wide appeal. The signifcant resources being expended in the pursuit of excellence with new vineyards and cellar facilities and a fresh approach to crafting world-class wines are yielding some outstanding values. The rewards are beginning to show with regular 4 star ratings.
In keeping with Blaauwklippen’s museum collection of antique carriages, some of the wines are named after famous carriage styles - such as Cabriolet and Landau.
click on images to enlarge.
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BVS ZINFANDEL 2005
Cloves and allspice with hints of dried red fruits on the nose. This rich, spicy wine layers ripe black cherry, raspberries and cranberries with freshly ground black pepper and tobacco notes. Has an appealing lightness that makes it a winner with food.
2,000 cases produced
3 1/2 star, John Platter
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