Klein Genot Wine Country Estate

Klein Genot’s Dreams Are Now Very Much A Reality With The Release Of Their Second Vintage Of Red Wines

Nestled in one of the most beautiful corners of the Franschhoek valley, Klein Genot has been operating as a boutique guesthouse for the past four years, notching up a prestigious Conde Nast award as one of the top 100 hotels worldwide.

A gracious symbiosis of attention to detail (there are only seven guest rooms), Feng Shui design and philosophy and a charming farm atmosphere have all contributed to this well-earned award.

It was with foresight that back in 2001, that owners Joey and Angie Diamond - who both admit to a love of red wines, planted 20 of the 30 hectares of their farm over to red wine varietals, employing the services of viticulturalist Paul Wallace. Their decision to employ the services of winemaker Mark Carmichael-Green was as a result of hearing him lecture about wine and enjoying his highly knowledgeable yet hands-on approach and with his assistance Klein Genot Wine and Country Estate launched its maiden vintage in March 2007.

Mark took on the Diamond's brief of concentrating on quality not quantity and to this end only 26 000 bottles of wines were made for the maiden 2005 vintage and a further 26 000 bottles for the newly released 2006 vintage. Says Angie, "The aim is to make young, modern wines." With the maiden vintages Mark had skilfully made four highly drinkable wines: a Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a superlative Black Swan Reserve Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon - a winning formula that was repeated with the second 2006 vintage.

All the cultivars are grown on the estate. Like with the maiden vintages Mark has again only used grapes from specific rows of vineyards so that he could return to look at their development for future vintages. He said the grapes were crushed at optimal ripeness resulting in fruit and terroir driven wines.

The Merlot 2006 was predominantly tank fermented but a slightly higher percentage of the 2006 vintage was matured in new French oak barrels – 25% to be exact with a combination of first and second fill barrels. "It's a very fruit-driven wine," he comments, adding that "it's a very plumy, classic French styled wine to drink". He describes the Shiraz as very different from the new-world styles, rather made in the typical French Rhone style, with the peppery, spicy, leathery flavours so characteristic of this varietal in that region coming through.

Read more articles like this...

The 2006 wine was 50% barrel fermented, again with a combination of first and second fill barrels. Of the Cabernet Sauvignon he says, he is pleased with the great structure and "lovely tannins" and refers to the Cabernet Franc as having dense dark chocolatey flavours, with lovely acid and a deep, dark red colour. From the latter two varietals has come the blend, with the character of the Cabernet Franc and the complexity of the Cabernet Sauvignon combining to make a wine of fine personality that offers up wonderful oaky flavours resulting from 50% wood maturation for 12 months in first and second fill barrels. Mark says his aim is to let the character of the grapes speak for themselves and reflect the terroir - cold wet winters with balanced leaf canopies and a long ripening means not more restrained but a refined character to the wines of Klein Genot Estate.

Angie freely admits that all the 2006 wines are made from vines that are now only five years old, but her words that "Mark understands the journey" ring true. It seems almost prophetic what the winemaker said about the launch of the maiden vintages in 2007. Mark said “I admit that the maiden vintage wines are all exceptionally good, but I feel that the 2006 vintage will be something to write home about.” – a sentiment proved correct by the 2006 wines. "We were able to make changes based on what we did for the maiden vintages and even our greatest expectations have been exceeded with the 2006 vintage. The excellent potential that was held for the 2006 vintage and for the future of the vineyards on Klein Genot Estate is now a reality with the launch of the second vintage."

Also on the cards is an estate-based cellar. The wines for the 2005 vintage were all produced at a neighbouring cellar but building is underway for a new wine-making facility at Klein Genot which will offer a tasting room, cellar sales and a restaurant. So watch this space! For comment call Angie Diamond on (27) (21) 876 2738, email info@kleingenot.com or visit www.kleingenot.com. For comment from Mark Carmichael-Green call 083 270 3254.

Suggested Retail/Cellar Door Price Klein Genot Merlot 2006 R60.00 Klein Genot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

R60.00 Klein Genot Shiraz 2006 R60.00 Klein Genot Black Swan Blend 2006 R110.00

Wine Analysis

	Alc%	TA.g/l	RS g/l	Ph	So2 mg/l
Reserve	14.19	6.00	3.0	3.5	43/81
Cabernet	14.29	5.70	3.0	3.60	42/81
Merlot	14.10	5.50	3.1	3.60	43/93
Shiraz	14.50	5.30	2.2	3.60	43/86