Earth's Essence is a new brand from KWV which uses a pioneering patented method of fermenting with Rooibois and Honeybush woods instead of adding SO2.
The first wine under this label is a a 2014 Pinotage, which bears the statement 'No sulphites or preservatives added', (which, in my opinion, is a bit misleading since the whole point of fermenting with Rooibois and Honeybush wood is to extract quercetin, luteolin, orientin, iso–orientin, vitexin, iso–vitexin and
aspalathin to act as antioxidants and to assist in preserving wine.)
Winemaker Louwritz Louw says "“The grapes are
harvested at optimal ripeness after which they are de-stemmed and crushed into
the fermentation tanks. The fermentation, with Rooibos and Honeybush wood, is done on skins. The wine is
removed from the skins and pressed earlier than usual to prevent the extraction
of hard tannins. In order to keep the wine sulphur free, it is also matured
with wood from the indigenous Rooibos and Honeybush. After maturation the wine
is fined, filtered and bottled."
Louw says that Earth’s Essence is an easy-drinking wine with a distinct flavour
and by replacing traditional oak in red-wine with Honeybush and Rooibos woods
the wine has a distinctive aroma and structure. “The
Pinotage shows upfront fruit sweetness with prominent cranberries, Turkish
delight and dark chocolate aromas,” says Louw. “Nuances of nuts, Rooibos,
Honeybush and sweet basil are complimented by the grippy tannin structure and
the intense, lingering finish.”
Wine fact sheet at www.earthsessence.co.za/assets/Earths-Essence-Factsheet.pdf
News source: wine.co.za
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