Elgin WO Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2021 Paul Clüver

The Noble Late Harvest by Paul Cluver is a South African sweet wine produced in Elgin Valley, from Riesling grapes grown in vineyards located between 300 and 400 meters of altitude. The vines, oriented east-west on slopes facing northwest, are planted on shale soils with a surface layer of ferricrete and lower layers of clay. These pedoclimatic conditions, together with the influence of the area's cool climate, favor the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), essential for the production of this wine style.

After careful selection of the bunches both in the vineyard and in the winery, the grapes undergo a two-day skin contact maceration. The must is then pressed, cold-settled, and slow fermented at controlled temperatures between 14°C and 16°C for about 10 weeks. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is stabilized and filtered to preserve its purity and aromatic balance.

On the nose, it reveals an explosion of dried fruit and floral accents of frangipani. The palate is lively and structured, dominated by notes of dried apricot and candied pineapple. The balance between sweetness and acidity is extraordinary, delivering a fresh and harmonious sip, without being cloying, but instead leaving a pleasant sensation of lightness.

Ideal with fruit desserts, apple tarts, or boards of aged and creamy cheeses.