De Trafford | Straw Wine | 2018
De Trafford | Straw Wine | 2018
For those with a sweet tooth, this Chenin straw wine was the first of its kind in South Africa and over the past 22 years it has been consistently one of the best sweet wines in the Western Cape. The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness then left for 3 weeks on drying mats outside to slowly concentrate the sugars, acid and flavours. They extract the treacle-like liquid from the berries into oak barrels (50% new) for a year long fermentation! The wine then remains in these barrels for approximately one more year before bottling. All of this time and effort results in something truly magnificent.
Nose & Palate
Attractive deep yellow colour. Intense honey, apricot, nuts and passion fruit nose. The palate is sweet and concentrated with just enough acidity and oak tannins to compliment and deliver a long, lingering finish.
Pairing
This wine is a dessert all on its own - a real treat after the meal. Delicious with biscotti and various nuts. Compliments slightly tart fruit desserts and good pâtés beautifully.
Accolades
95 Points - Tim Atkin MW | 5 Stars (96 Points) - Platter’s SA Wine Guide
About the Winery
Great wines start with great vines. The hallmark of De Trafford is the effort spent growing ripe vines with a focus on yield, quality and sustainability, to produce truly outstanding wine.
Situated on the beautiful Mont Fleur farm, 380m up between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains, the De Trafford winery was started in 1992 by former architect David Trafford and his wife Rita. After learning a great deal from local farmers in Stellenbosch and abroad in Bordeaux, David Trafford carefully chose varieties, clones and rootstocks to match the subtle soil and microclimate differences in the farm. Such careful attention to detail is carried through all facets of the growing and winemaking process at De Trafford - the result is seriously well structured and concentrated red wines which convey the personality and uniqueness of the mountain site.
