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Featured Wines & Estate
Featured Estate | The Idiom Collection | The Farm’s name | Terroir: | Other Wines Available
featured wines
available as 185ml, 125ml or tasting glass

the & symbol indicates the six wines currently in the Wijnhuis Select Wine Tasting
 
white wines red wines
1.  WHALEHAVEN VIOGNIER-CHARDONNAY 2008
Fresh, un-oaked & highly aromatic with peach, honey & citrus blossom. Great with fusion foods, spicy dishes & curries.
11.  DE MEYE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005
Rich, dark fruit, cigar box, pencil shavings & mineral tones. Full bodied yet accessible, black cherry, prunes, tobacco, spices & hint of savoury. Layered tannins & good complexity, leaves a long finish.
½ HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY, WALKER BAY
Alc: 12.5% RS 6.8g/l TA: 5.4g/l pH: 3.45
 GREATER SIMONSBERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.0% RS 2.3g/l TA: 5.3g/l pH: 3.70
2.  MORGENHOF CHENIN BLANC 2008
A wonderful expression of citrus, lime & passion fruit flavours that are harmoniously integrated with French oak barrels. Explodes on a creamy palate that finishes with a lingering freshness. Fermented in stainless steel tanks & aged in French oak barrels for 6 months.
12.  LINTON PARK MERLOT 2004
Second harvest from this single vineyard called “River Garden”. Already shows the promising potential of the vineyards. Fruit-driven with cherry & mulberry flavours, complimented by just enough oak to give a balanced finish to the fruit.
 GREATER SIMONSBERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 13.5% RS 3.1g/l TA: 5.8g/l pH: 3.61
 WELLINGTON, PAARL
Alc: 14.5% RS 1.5g/l TA: 5.6g/l pH: 3.74
3.  ASARA CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
A unique white wine produced from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, offering floral aromas combined with yellow apples. Elegant, pears & peaches. With certain characteristics that remind of a good Riesling.
13.  MIDDELVLEI PINOTAGE 2006
On the nose find sweet raspberry aromas with mulberry undertones and elegant oak spices. Palate is medium bodied, packed with fruit flavours.
½ STELLENBOSCH HILLS, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.0% RS 2.3g/l TA: 6.4g/l pH: 3.44
½ DEVON VALLEY, STELLENBOSCH HILLS, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.3% RS 3.7g/l TA: 5.3g/l pH: 3.74
4.  SARONSBERG PROVENANCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
Showing prominent tropical, gooseberry & fruit salad flavours followed by hints of grass & a flinty aftertaste.
14.  ENOTECA BOTTEGA SUPER ROSSO 2004
Cab Sauvignon-Merlot-Cab Franc. (57/28/15) Full bodied with blueberry & cherry aromas. Firm tannins with hints of vanilla, spice & dark roasted coffee.
½ TULBAGH
Alc: 13.0% RS 2.3g/l TA: 6.5g/l pH: 3.37
½ HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY, WALKER BAY
Alc: 14.5% RS 2.8g/l TA: 6.2g/l pH: 3.62
5.  PAUL CLUVER WEISSER RIESLING 2008
Dry, only 12% alc. Lots of spice & floral tones, is very austere & has typical Riesling nervousness. The palate is elegant & rich with a long lingering after taste carried by the great acidity of the wine.
15.  KAAPZICHT SHIRAZ 2005
Rich & complex with layers of ripe black cherry, smoky spice & vanilla; muscular, well honed tannins lending depth & structure to satisfying core of ripe fruit; well integrated oak with lovely dry finish.
 ELGIN, OVERBERG
Alc: 12.0% RS 9.2g/l TA: 6.9g/l pH: 3.23
 BOTTELARY HILLS, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.8% RS 2.6g/l TA: 7.1g/l pH: 3.20
6.  WHALEHAVEN CHARDONNAY 2007
Elegantly styled with finely balanced fruit & oak. Butterscotch & citrus aromas with hints of spice & roasted almonds. Recommended with white meat, fish, & crayfish in creamy sauces.
16.  WHALEHAVEN CABERNET FRANC 2006
Full-bodied & well structured. A rustic red with powerful black cherry, blueberries, spice & mocha.
GOLD MEDAL @ SANTÉ CLASSIC WINE TROPHY 2006
 HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY, WALKER BAY
Alc: 14.0% RS 2.3g/l TA: 6.5g/l pH: 3.34
½ HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY, WALKER BAY
Alc: 14.5% RS 2.8g/l TA: 6.2g/l pH: 3.62
7.  JORDAN BARREL FERMENTED SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
Previously Blanc Fumé. Ripe fig, gooseberry & tropical fruit flavours are complemented by the gentle vanilla nuances of oak.
17.  LOURENSFORD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003
Tobacco & cocoa aromas on the nose with hints of peach. The peach flavours follow through to the palate, the palate fattening out into well-integrated tannins & extract.
½ STELLENBOSCH HILLS, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 13.5% RS 1.5g/l TA: 5.9g/l pH: 3.37
½ HELDERBERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.8% RS 3.4g/l TA: 5.5g/l pH: 3.66
8.  GLEN CARLOU CHARDONNAY 2008
Aromas of straw, citrus & tropical fruits. Well balanced. Rich complex fruit layers surrounded by leesy undertones in classic style. Long lasting juicy fruit flavours on palate, with full mouthfeel, with crisp & clean acid backbone.
18.  IDIOM ZINFANDEL 2006
Succulent & aromatic, with waves of blueberry, rosemary, bay leaf & spice. Med-bodied with mouth-filling and lingering aftertaste. A unique taste experience offering explosive flavours.
 PAARL
Alc: 14.0% RS 3.6g/l TA: 6.1g/l pH: 3.26
½ SIR LOWRY'S PASS, HELDERBERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 15.5% RS 3.0g/l TA: 6.5g/l pH: 3.36
9.  RIJK'S SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007
An attractive green fig aroma on the nose is supported by hints of lime & gooseberry. Asparagus aromas come to the fore. Palate is lively & well balanced – crisp acid / creaminess to round it off.
19.  IDIOM SMV 2005
Shiraz-Mourvèdre-Viognier. Full bodied blend with rich mouth-filling smoky aromas of black cherry, dark chocolates & violets.
 TULBAGH
Alc: 12.5% RS 1.6g/l TA: 7.2g/l pH: 3.20
 SIR LOWRY'S PASS, HELDERBERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.0% RS 3.0g/l TA: 5.8g/l pH: 3.66
10.  IDIOM VIOGNIER 2007
Bouquet of orange, lime & peach blossoms with notes of honeyed fig. Opulently textured rich nougat on palate. Lingering almond aftertaste.
MICHELANGELO GOLD MEDAL
20.  WATERFORD KEVIN ARNOLD SHIRAZ 2006
Slightly oaky overtones combine with spice & mocha on the nose. Full rich & fairly dry mouth feel. The long finish makes this an excellent food wine.
VERITAS GOLD MEDAL
½ SIR LOWRY'S PASS, HELDERBERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 13.0% RS 3.6g/l TA: 6.8g/l pH: 3.21
 STELLENBOSCH BERG, STELLENBOSCH
Alc: 14.0% RS 1.5g/l TA: 5.8g/l pH: 3.64
 
 
featured estate: idiom Back to Top back to top
 
Idiom Location: Sir Lowry's Pass, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Established: 1999
First Bottled:
Owner/s: Bottega Family
Winemaker/s: Reino Thiart
Viticulturist: Tim Clark
Vineyards: 32 ha
Production: 4000 cases of 6
Tasting: at Whalehaven Winery, Hermanus. New Idiom venue opening 2010
Telephone: +27 28 316 1633
Website: www.bottegafamilywine.co.za
 
 
the idiom collection Back to Top back to top
 
An award-winning range of premium wines from the Bottega family’s Da Capo Vineyards, located in the southernmost part of the Stellenbosch wine region, near Sir Lowry’s Pass, overlooking False Bay.

The range consists of big, bold blends of noble varietals & single cultivar renditions of Italian & Mediterranean grape varietals, all uniquely expressed in a Cape idiom.
 
 
the farm’s name Back to Top back to top
 
At the end of the inaugural & original Three Tenors concert in Rome, July 1990, Luciano Pavarotti asked the President of Italy which aria the tenors should perform as an encore. The reply was simply "Da Capo!" which in Italian means "From the beginning". With its dual reference to “the Cape", Da Capo became an obvious choice when Alberto Bottega named his wine farm some years later. Not only were the vineyards prepared and planted from scratch, but Bottega wanted to create memorable wines that his customers would want to experience again.
 
 
terroir: Back to Top back to top
 
Da Capo Vineyards are situated at the foot of the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains. Vineyard slopes vary in height from 150 to 350 metres above sea level with aspects facing north, west & south. The wind helps restrict berry size and keep yields very low. Soils contain decomposed granite, which is relatively shallow & stony in patches, with a clay base.
From the highest vineyards the profile of the whole Cape Peninsula from Table Mountain to Cape Point is visible across the nearby False Bay.
A new feature tasting room for Idiom wines is planned for 2010.
 
 
other wines available Back to Top back to top
 
White Wine
Idiom Viognier 2006
Idiom Viognier 2007
 
Red Wine
Idiom Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2005
Idiom Nebbiolo 2004
Idiom Sangiovese 2005
Idiom SMV 2005
Idiom Zinfandel 2006