Cool climate peppery spice, grippy tannins, with layers of bramble and black cherry fruit. The finish is long and layered, the and showcases lingering notes of black fruit, subtle spices, and a touch of oak, making it both satisfying and complex.
Hand harvested, before being de-stemmed and sorted on a vibrating table, the grapes were de-stemmed and not crushed. Once wild fermentation had started the skin cap was softly punched down 2-3 times per a day to achieve desired extraction. Post fermentation the wines underwent extended maceration; the wines were tasted picked regularly in order to assess the extraction level and when to press-off. Once pressed off, the wines undergo spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel where they were aged for 12-16 months, in 500L French oak barrels, of which 18% is new oak.
Winemaker : John Seccombe
Winemaker : John Seccombe
The wines of Iona come from a dramatically unique site in the Cape Winelands. The vineyards are on a mountain plateau 420 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. In a country where cool sites are precious, these vineyards are like gold – the grapes ripening up to two months later than other Cape vineyards and in perfect balance. Iona is South Africa's coolest vineyard site. Andrew Gunn and family acquired this beautiful, but run-down apple farm in 1997. It was renamed after the remote, spiritual island off the west coast of Scotland.
The first vineyards were planted in 1998 and the initial research confirms that Iona is South Africa’s coolest vineyard with harvesting times up to 8 weeks later than other wine producing areas. The cool climate ensures long, slow physiological ripening of the grapes under ideal growing conditions, with the sugar, ph, acid and flavor compounds being in balance to produce elegant wines of distinction. Iona’s Sauvignon blancs are making a name for themselves as one of the finest examples of this grape variety in the world.
The first vineyards were planted in 1998 and the initial research confirms that Iona is South Africa’s coolest vineyard with harvesting times up to 8 weeks later than other wine producing areas. The cool climate ensures long, slow physiological ripening of the grapes under ideal growing conditions, with the sugar, ph, acid and flavor compounds being in balance to produce elegant wines of distinction. Iona’s Sauvignon blancs are making a name for themselves as one of the finest examples of this grape variety in the world.
