Another cold, wet winter preceded the growing season, resulting in good dormancy and healthy water levels. These conditions continued into the spring, resulting in delayed but fairly even bud break, flowering, and fruit set. During the growing season, mildew-friendly conditions persisted, putting additional strain on careful canopy management. Cool weather and rain in early summer delayed ripening and kept the vineyards in excellent condition as they approached the final stages of ripening, resulting in another late vintage. Healthy canopy conditions allowed for good flavour development and bright, vibrant acidity, resulting in well-balanced, age-worthy wines.

This vineyard has a unique history and an extraordinary story of “2 lives”. First planted in 1964 on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountains between Malmesbury and Paarl in the Swartland, these old bush vines were removed from their original home and replanted on the north facing decomposed granite slopes of L’Ormarins, Franschhoek in 2007 & 2008 where they now produce this single varietal wine. Yielding on average around 2 – 3 tons/ha, the vines produce fruit with great purity and balance.

“Late, slow and steady” would be the best way to describe the 2021 vintage. The preceding winter was cold and wet, resulting in good dormancy and healthy dam levels prior to the growing season. The cool weather continued into spring which in turn resulted in delayed but relatively even bud break, flowering and fruit set. The moderate summer temperatures slowed the ripening period and resulted in harvest starting about two weeks later than normal. The usually hot month of February was uncharacteristically cool, allowing for the gradual ripening of fruit with good flavour intensity and acidity. An exceptional vintage which promises to deliver outstanding wines.

This vineyard has a unique history and an extraordinary story of “2 lives”. First planted in 1964 on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountains between Malmesbury and Paarl in the Swartland, these old bush vines were removed from their original home and replanted on the north facing decomposed granite slopes of L’Ormarins, Franschhoek in 2007 & 2008 where they now produce this single varietal wine. Yielding on average around 2 – 3 tons/ha, the vines produce fruit with great purity and balance.

Good rainfall and favourable climatic conditions during the growing season allowed for good flowering and fruit set. Cool, moderate conditions during summer allowed for slow gradual ripening until the grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness, with rich flavour concentration and balance. The 2020 vintage was one of the most outstanding and enjoyable vintages in recent years.

This vineyard has a unique history and an extraordinary story of “2 lives”. First planted in 1964 on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountains between Malmesbury and Paarl in the Swartland, these old bush vines were removed from their original home and replanted on the north facing decomposed granite slopes of L’Ormarins, Franschhoek in 2007 & 2008 where they now produce this single varietal wine. Yielding on average around 2 – 3 tons/ha, the vines produce fruit with great purity and balance.

This vineyard has a unique history and an extraordinary story of “2 lives”. First planted in 1964 on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountains between Malmesbury and Paarl in the Swartland, these old bush vines were removed from their original home and replanted on the north facing decomposed granite slopes of L’Ormarins, Franschhoek in 2007 & 2008 where they now produce this single varietal wine. Yielding on average around 2 – 3 tons/ha, the vines produce fruit of great purity and balance.

The 2019 vintage was a very challenging one, mainly due to uneven ripening during the early stages of harvest. October 2018 experienced wet, cold, and unusually warm conditions, as well as strong winds that caused significant damage to certain vineyards. This led to poor set and the consequent uneven ripening of bunches. The conditions during January and February were very favourable, with cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures resulting in great fruit flavours and exceptional acids. Despite the slower start, the white- and rosé harvest was intense and compact, ending 2 weeks earlier than the 2018 vintage.

Despite the continuing severe drought conditions in the Western Cape, the 2018 harvest yielded very healthy fruit with beautiful flavour and good acidity. Relatively cool conditions and intermittent rainfall during the growing season delayed the onset of vintage slightly in comparison to the previous three vintages. The warmer regions were most severely affected by the drought, resulting in extremely low yields of high quality fruit.

This vineyard has a unique history and an extraordinary story of “2 lives”. First planted in 1964 on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountains between Malmesbury and Paarl in the Swartland, these old bush vines were removed from their original home and replanted on the north facing decomposed granite slopes of L’Ormarins, Franschhoek in 2007 & 2008 where they now produce this single varietal wine. Yielding on average around 2 – 3 tons/ha, the vines produce fruit with great purity and balance.