Product details
Description
Overgaauw Wine Landgoed was founded in 1905 by Abraham van Velden, whose grandfather emigrated to South Africa in 1848 together with his wife Elisabeth Overgaauw. Overgaauw Wine Estate is now one of the best in South Africa and can be called a classic wine house and is seen as a Bordeaux house but in South Africa and that is certainly not surprising knowing that the current generation of internships at Clos de Jacobins in Saint-Émilion led by Hubert du Boüard de Laforest, co-owner of Château Angelus. The style of wines that Overgaauw produces is based on a classic approach.
The Shepherd's Cottage is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot located on vineyards around 15-20 years old. In the glass, the Shepherd's cottage has a deep color with purple reflection; richly filled aroma with blackberry compote, blueberries, leather and vanilla.
Variety Description
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climate. Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognized through its prominence in Bordeaux wines where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. South Australia, Western Australia & California in the USA have become well-known for their Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The classic profile of Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be full-bodied wines with high tannins and noticeable acidity that contributes to the wine's aging potential.
Merlot
Merlot is a dark blue-coloured wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine, and it is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux wine regions. When harvesting late, it gain ripeness and produce inky, purple coloured wines that are full in body with high alcohol and lush, velvety tannins with plum and blackberry fruit. The traditional "Bordeaux style" of Merlot involves harvesting Merlot earlier to maintain acidity and producing more medium-bodied wines with moderate alcohol levels that have fresh, red fruit flavours (raspberries, strawberries) and potentially leafy, vegetal notes.
Country Description
South Africa
South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, with the first bottle produced in Cape Town by its founder Jan van Riebeeck. Access to international markets led to new investment in the South African wine market. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and production centres at Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester. There are about 60 appellations within the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973 with a hierarchy of designated production regions, districts and wards. WO wines must only contain grapes from the specific area of origin. "Single vineyard" wines must come from a defined area of less than 5 hectares. An "Estate Wine" can come from adjacent farms if they are farmed together and wine is produced on site. A ward is an area with a distinctive soil type or climate and is roughly equivalent to a European appellation.
Region Description
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is perhaps the most famous wine-producing region in South Africa. The town, in Western Cape's Coastal Region, is steeped in history and is home to the country’s best-known wine estates. Cabernet Sauvignon is the region's most widely planted grape variety, and is often combined with Merlot to create Bordeaux Blend wines.
Vineyards cover the gently rolling hills of Stellenbosch, from Helderberg in the south to the lower slopes of Simonsberg Mountain in the north. This terrain allows for a lot of variation in wine styles, and mesoclimates suitable for the cultivation of all sorts of grape varieties can be found among the exposed hills and sheltered valleys.
