Wine: Mount Rozier Petit Rozier Cape Red

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape

Designation: W.O. Western Cape

Producer: Mount Rozier

Grape Varietal: 50% Pinotage, 45% Shiraz & 5% Petit Verdot

ABV: 13.0%

Type: Red

Code: 8502

Tasting Note

Fruit-driven wine with upfront notes of dark and red berry flavours. Some olive and sweet spices also present. This medium-bodied wine has lots of berry flavours on the palate and has a low tannin structure, which makes for an easy everyday drinking wine.

Producer

Purchased by the Gabb family (owners of Journey’s End winery) in 2009, Mount Rozier was founded at the turn of the 19th century by Annie Rozier, a flower merchant. The Gabbs have nurtured the estate and encouraged the proliferation of many indigenous species of flora and fauna, which inspire the characteristics of Mount Rozier wines. Each wine brings a sense of the terroir and the winery continues to focus on minimal intervention, sustainable and ethical farming practices, and irreconcilable quality.

Winemaking

Varietals are processed separately with destemmed bunches but no crushing. The whole berries are fermented in stainless steel tanks with pumping over to ensure good extraction of flavours and tannins. An additional malolactic fermentation adds extra mouthfeel and mellowness to the wine. Finally, the wines are blended together, before being prepared for bottling.

Fun Fact

Mount Rozier was founded at the turn of the 19th century by Annie Rozier, a flower merchant. She picked wildflowers in the Schapenberg hills surrounding her family’s homestead and famously, she also produced natural remedies and medicines for the local community. In the 1920s, the Stellebosch-based estate formed part of Myrtle Grove, where the first-ever commercial plantings of Pinotage were grown in 1941 by Professor Perold.

Food pairing

Ideal with grills and red meat dishes, this is a well-balanced red for casual dining, especially barbecues.