Winemaker Notes
Phenolically ripe grapes are handpicked, cooled before a gentle crushing, open fermented in 600kg lots, hand punched down three times daily, and put into the barrel at 5 degrees Balling to finish fermentation in barrel. The wine is racked a few times before bottling a year later and is further aged in bottle for a year on average before release. They feel they have a special site and their goal is to bottle what comes from the vineyard. We add only yeast and minimal sulfur to the wine. Their goal is a limited edition, terroir driven wine that is drinkable now as well as able to mature further in the bottle.
The name "Black Pearl" was inspired by the fact that the vineyard is situated on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, and Paarl Rock resembles a black pearl after it has rained. Black pearls also have rarity value. The name of our blend "Oro" comes from the God Oro, King of the Firmament, who gave the black pearl as a gift to the ocean.
Flanked by majestic mountains on either side, the Paarl district is a valley whose most valuable water source is the Berg River. While sometimes during dry and hot summers, the vineyards in the valley need supplemental irrigation, those vineyards on the eastern slopes where water retention is better, aren't irrigated.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc enjoy great success in Paarl.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”