Elgin Vintners Belle Amie Blanc de Noir

100% Syrah

W.O. Elgin

HARVEST The 2023 Vintage proved to be one of the most challenging of recent history. Many have described it as a Year of two harvests; before the rain and after the rain. Though we expect cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than most other wine-producing regions, the 2023 harvest was extremely challenging. The month of March (which is traditionally the busiest period during harvest) saw over 600mls of rain, falling constantly over a three-week period. The harvest literally stopped for an entire month as we waited for the later-ripening varietals to assimilate the water and ripen, before the onslaught of fungal pressure.

V I N I F I C A T I O N Thankfully, we picked the Syrah grapes at around 21 Balling, a couple of days before the rain was due to start. The berries were left on their stems while filling the press. We then left the press for about half an hour for the grapes to start releasing some of their colour into the juice, as the bunches compressed via gravity. Once we decided that the right amount of colour had been extracted, the grapes were pressed and separated from their skins, with the subsequent “pink” juice being sent into a stainless-steel tank at 12°C. Settled over-night and then racked into a separate steel tank, the juice was allowed to warm up slowly, with the natural fermentation kicking in 2 to 3 days later. The fermentation took just over 12 days in total with a yeast inoculation towards the very end just to finish off any remaining sugar. The wine was then left on the lees for 5 months prior to bottling.

THE WINE This process has resulted in a light and refreshing wine with an alcohol of 12.5% vol. The “Partridge-eye-pink” colour of the wine is typical of a Blanc de Noir style (white wine from black grapes), with beautiful clarity when observed through natural light. The aromas and flavours of water-melon and pomegranate get the tastebuds salivating in anticipation of the wave of freshness to be experienced on the palate. Fruity, well balanced with a silky texture and a gravity-defying lightness. This wine is complimented by a bone-dry finish that leaves you craving the next sip.

FOOD Though perfect to consume on its own as a refreshing thirst-quencher, this wine has enough depth and complexity to pair with a multitude of dishes including sea-food, caprese salad, light cheeses, Parma ham, carpaccio, roasted vegetables, crudites and goes exceptionally well with poached eggs and salmon!

Alcohol: 12.5% • Total acid: 5.5 • Residual sugar: 1.8 • pH: 3.4