Delheim wine estate has released a once-off and super exclusive Cape Blend that celebrates the life of the late Spatz Sperling. Called Iconoclast, this wine from the 2012 vintage is a tribute to the South African wine pioneer and his fearless challenge of conventional wisdoms.
Iconoclast is a blend of four cultivars although not typical of a Cape Blend, which commonly use South African Pinotage as the lead variety. Iconoclast is Shiraz-driven, a quirk that would have made Spatz smile not only for being contrary to the mainstream, but also because Shiraz was his favorite.
Iconoclast is a blend of four cultivars although not typical of a Cape Blend, which commonly use South African Pinotage as the lead variety. Iconoclast is Shiraz-driven, a quirk that would have made Spatz smile not only for being contrary to the mainstream, but also because Shiraz was his favorite.
The unique terroir these vines are grown echoes in this blend. The age of these vines ranging from 10 years to older also contributes to the exceptional quality of the grapes at harvest.
Grapes are picked by hand in order to minimalize material other than grapes as well as to be able to do bunch selection in the vineyard. Great care is taken in the cellar to optimize extraction of flavors during fermentation. Pump-overs and punch downs are done three times per day with two racks and return being done before the alcoholic fermentation is completed. Fermentation temperature was maintained between 25 and 28 degree Celsius. Post-maturation was done on the Merlot component.
The different components spend 16 months in French oak, hogshead, barrels of which 30% were new. After the 16 months, the blend was made and aged for another 4 months as a blend in 300L barrels of which only 20% where new oak.
Winemaker: Spatz Sperling
Grapes are picked by hand in order to minimalize material other than grapes as well as to be able to do bunch selection in the vineyard. Great care is taken in the cellar to optimize extraction of flavors during fermentation. Pump-overs and punch downs are done three times per day with two racks and return being done before the alcoholic fermentation is completed. Fermentation temperature was maintained between 25 and 28 degree Celsius. Post-maturation was done on the Merlot component.
The different components spend 16 months in French oak, hogshead, barrels of which 30% were new. After the 16 months, the blend was made and aged for another 4 months as a blend in 300L barrels of which only 20% where new oak.
Winemaker: Spatz Sperling
Delheim Wine Estate is situated in the Simonsberg Ward of Stellenbosch in South Africa, with views that are breathtaking all year round. Delheim has been producing a wide range of internationally acclaimed wines for more than 60 years.
