WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Nose – A symphony of violets, potpourri, dried cranberries and hints of dark chocolate. Fresh and inviting, yet complex, layered and intriguing.
Palate – Well-judged oak, fruit purity and textured richness are hallmarks of this world class wine. The palate is generous and complex, with fresh cherries and a subtle, sweet spiciness that distinguishes fine Stellenbosch Pinotage.
An exclusive geological vein comprising weathered shale has consistently yielded the best quality Pinotage at L’Avenir. Block 2 is situated at the core of this special site, on the highest point of L’Avenir Hill. The first single vineyard wine from Block 2 was
produced in 2004. This was the start of one of the most iconic South African wines.
BLOCK 2
A moderate season, with sufficient rain. The vintage stands out for its elegant wines, often with lower alcohol levels. Grapes were hand-harvested in small batches at L’Avenir, based on taste and optimal ripeness.
THE 2018 VINTAGE
After being hand-sorted, destemmed and only lightly crushed, the grapes remained in a tank for three days of cool maceration, before fermentation started through natural yeasts. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, as well as a French oak
barrels. The wine was matured in 300 litre French oak barrels of which about 15% were new. Only the best 14 barrels were selected for the final blend.
About L’avenir
L’Avenir’s rich history dates back to the late 1600s, when the estate was one of the very first sites identified for grape growing by the Cape’s earliest European settlers.
The estate was renamed L’Avenir in 1992 by Mark Wiehe, a Mauritian businessman, who left a career of trading sugar in London to purchase the farm. This was the start of specialisation of this unique boutique winery. Wiehe appointed former pharmacist Francois Naude as winemaker and the estate swiftly gained recognition for its distinctive Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. In 2005, L’Avenir was acquired by the owner of the prestigious Chablis property, Laroche, Chablisien Michel Laroche.
In 2007, under the mentorship of Naudé, current winemaker Dirk Coetzee joined the farm after completing his degree in Viticulture & Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch. The young maverick was instrumental in shifting the focus to L’Avenir’s top performing single vineyards – resulting in the now famous L’Avenir Single Block range. In 2012, the Laroche and JeanJean families combined forces to create Advini. This marked the start of a new era for L’Avenir, as it joined a family of some of the most acclaimed and awarded wines in the world.
