Unveiling Chris Kelly's maiden Delaire vintage

The three releases include the aromatic Delaire Sauvignon Blanc 2008, the maiden vintage of New Zealand-born winemaker Chris Kelly who joined the estate in 2007. The other new releases are Delaire Chardonnay 2007 and the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon-based red, Delaire 2006.

Styling the Sauvignon Blanc

The aromatic Sauvignon Blanc is said to bare the unique flavours and styles inherent in two diverse terroirs.

“Our Sauvignon Blanc is a mélange of two higher altitude vineyards. The first having strong fig and lime characters with sublime aromatics whilst the second offers more linear grapefruit and peach skin characters to provide focus on the palate,” explains Kelly.

Fostering a ‘soft hands' winemaking philosophy to preserve the site expressive characters of the grapes through to the bottle, Kelly and his team ‘influenced' the flavours of the Sauvignon blanc through canopy and water management so that there were very few surprises when the grapes arrived at the cellar.

“We focus a lot on the texture of the wine when crafting a blend as the aromatics have already been determined. We work hard to preserve the flavours through the various stages before and during fermentation, to ensure that they will always return later. With our no ‘smoke and mirrors' approach, getting the texture and structure right are really the sole influence we can and wish to have,” adds Kelly.

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon

A well-rounded Chardonnay 2007 with rich with wild honey and marzipan nuances makes up the second white wine in Delaire's new streamlined repertoire. Flaunting a lush cashew nut and melon palate, the wine was barrel fermented for several weeks and spent 10 months in the maturation cellar.

Delaire's high altitude and cooler conditions are said to be ideal for slower, optimal ripening of the grapes imparting superb qualities to the red varietals. The estate's flagship red, the Delaire 2006 Bordeaux-style blend, is an elegant red, driven by Cabernet Sauvignon whilst Merlot and Shiraz seamlessly integrate to ensure a smooth, boldly structured wine with close-knit, soft tannins. The latest vintage reveals rich aromas of cassis and cinnamon with intense liquorice and black berry flavours on the palate, ending with a smooth, lingering finish.

Delaire - meaning ‘From the Sky' - was purchased in 2003 by Laurence Graff, founder of London based Graff Diamonds International and is currently undergoing a major transformation with the first phase, the building of a modern, hi-tech cellar now completed.

Other prominent developments at this Cape Winelands gem include a new restaurant due for completion in 2009.

Recommended retail prices:

• Delaire Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - from R60 per bottle
  
• Delaire Chardonnay 2007 - from R80 per bottle
  
• Delaire Blend 2006 - from R90 per bottle

The Delaire wine range is available at leading fine wine outlets countrywide.