Neil Ellis Insignium 2019

Neil Ellis Insignium 2019

Neil Ellis has been producing wines from the Stellenbosch region since 1984, with an ambition to create unique and elegant wines that reflect their origins and stand among the best in South Africa.

2018 marked the fourth year of drought in the Western Cape, affecting wine production with a warm winter and early bud break, leading to an early harvest. The ripening period featured moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights, resulting in uneven ripening of the Cabernet Franc grapes. Harvest began on 21 February 2019, with grapes picked at 25.5°B, with an acidity of 7.5 g/l and a pH of 3.5. The yield was 6.1 tonnes per hectare. The grapes were destemmed and fermented as whole berries, with several pump-overs until dry. Malolactic fermentation took place in French oak barrels, where the wine matured for 18 months. It was bottled in December 2020.

The wine presents a deep, intense color with a delicate aroma of dark and red cherries, violets and perfumed notes, ending with dried herbs. The palate is both elegant and lively, with a complexity and density where red berries, herbs and a peppery earthiness unfold in a long and balanced aftertaste.