THE CAPSULE| Feb 2001, Pressjuice
Dear Flagstone Friend -
“Crush” is here again – we have just taken in our first grapes – 10 tons of Organically grown Colombard. Our philosophy of only selecting the right combination of grape variety and meso-climate (or vineyard situation) is paying off; as our awards and sales seem to testify.
As most of you know we are situated at the V&A Waterfront to take advantage of the cold store facilities utilised by the deciduous fruit and fishing industries. We cool our grapes down at –25C before we crush and this makes all the difference, as we don’t have to use copious amounts of sulphur at the crusher. Our belief in “punch downs”, “wild ferments” and other highly risky, but highly effective winemaking practises help us translate the specific characteristics of the vineyard into the bottle – as naturally as possible. After all what’s the use of selecting the best blocks in the best sites around the country if it tastes like everything else?
Our insistence on using recyclable, alternative corks to ensure you receive your wine in perfect shape has meant we have never received a single complaint of spoilage. Our corks are very expensive, but worth every bit of extra cost.
The 2000 wines are looking great – but all wineries say that, don’t they? As usual most will wait for a John Platter or a Veritas Award before buying. Our advice has always been “TRUST YOUR TASTE” – and buy what you like, and buy quick – don’t worry about what other people think – if it tastes good to you IT IS GOOD. Having said that, here is our show-off list of awards.
2000 Awards
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Bargain of the Month
For our 1999 Noon Gun (dry white blend), by Michael Olivier in Fairlady Magazine (the 2000 is now bottled and is looking even better.
Best Chardonnay
For our 1999 Resolute 166 Chardonnay out of 55 tasted blind by The Oaks Wine Club Selection Panel. This is a style of Chardonnay we really believe in. The 2000 is an even more serious wine of breathtaking intensity – release December 2000.
“Favourite White Wine” of the Year
For our 1999 Two Roads Chardonnay, by Carey Adams. And Carey is one of the few the with a little stock left in South Africa – we’ve been sold out since July. She can be contacted on (011) 7884814 – Norman Goodfellows (JHB). There should also be a few cases knocking around selected Oddbins stores in the UK.
Best Chardonnay
For our 1999 Two Roads Chardonnay - out of 89 tasted blind by the Wine of the Month Club tasting panel.
Best Pinot Noir
For our 1999 BK5 Pinot Noir, in Wine Magazine(SA September 2000). The tasting panel were mostly Pinot Noir winemakers. The 2000 is bottled and should be in a Fine Wine shop near you. We think the 2000 is better balanced, more fruity and more complex, it should also develop slower, and be longer lived.
Best Blended Red (non-Bordeaux)
For our 1999 Dragon Tree Cabernet Sauvignon & Pinotage out of 46 tasted blind by The Wine of the Month Club Selection Panel. Also picked up a Silver Veritas Award. Although our largest quantity wine we produce it was snapped up within days of bottling. Now only available through Wine of the Month Club or from Oddbins (in the UK) I am afraid.
Gold Veritas Medals (SA National Wine Show)
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For our 1999 Two Roads Chardonnay
For our 1999 The Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon
For our 1999 Woolworths Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon
3 gold medals at our first National Wine Show! The Music Room will be available in December 2000 and The Woolies is on the shelves, but selling out quickly. Pre-release orders for The Music Room have already accounted for 65% of bottled stock. Please contact us if you want to reserve a case or two. It is very expensive, I am afraid, but like dotting parents we gave it everything, and more. The most expensive, opulent Cabernet fruit, hand-picking, hand-sorting, the most exclusive barrels, the riskiest winemaking and lots and lots of love.
Michelangelo Gold Medal
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For our 1999 Chapman’s Chance Pinotage
Again, sold out already! Only available through The Sunday Times Wine Club in the UK on 0870 2200020, or at the Michelangelo Hotel in JHB. This wine was also written up by Steven Pryer in the UK as one of the best Pinotages he has ever tasted!
Other wines soon to be released:
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Resolute Chardonnay 2000 - looking fantastic! Will be bottled next week.
Freerun Sauvignon Blanc 2000 - only 35 cases left I am afraid.
Noon Gun 2000 - cracking value - should probably carry a crowd control warning.
Semaphore (Dry Rose – mostly Pinot Gris) 2000
Heywood House 2000
Longitude 2000 (Dry Red Blend of Pinotage, Pinot Noir & Cabernet Sauvignon)
Please email for a price list.
I hate telling people who’ve called that our wine is already sold out. It is the people who’ve made the effort to make contact who we really want to share our work with, and interact with. Please take this newsletter as an invitation to contact us.
Thanks to all those who have supported us so strongly to date. We are continually inspired by your enjoyment of Flagstone Wines and appreciate your personal involvement with what we are trying to do – MAKE GREAT WINE! We hope you continue to enjoy the fruits of our labour of love.
Yours sincerely,
Bruce Jack
Winemaker – Flagstone Winery
