In order to bring the best to the lovers of Fusion V , we attempt to age the wine a little longer in the bottle. This practice will continue as the cash flow allows. We managed to hold back the 2001 vintage for 7 months and next year we will probably achieve 12 months bottle ageing. 

Due to our rigorous selection criteria, we produced only 3000 cases of Fusion V 2001 . Some allocations have been cut and others remained the same. Needless to say all allocations have been taken up and we are already technically "sold out" ex cellar. Even the couple of cases sold directly from the farm have been sold "en première"

We have however increased production of Fusion V slightly. We decided to present the extra couple of liters in magnum bottles. Each bottle is packed in its own individual wooden display box. Look out  for these and the 750ml Fusion V from your regular stockist.

Please also contact us, if for some reason, you can not get your regular supply. We will  facilitate where we can!

Furthermore, our cellar's fermentation area is designed to take in grapes of 4 ton lots at a time. This practice allows us to ferment small parcels of the selected vineyard separately. These small parcels are evaluated and selected and matched to their oak requirements.

Notice the small 4000 liter fermentors in the background.

Finally each barrel gets tasted and a final barrel selection for Fusion V is made. What is is left over after our selection and blending process goes into our new DIVERSITY label.

Our new Natural Blackberry liqueur launched last month is nearly sold out. And that all in South Africa. Our new distributors for the rest of South Africa  are the Terroir Group. They also distribute Laurent Perrier and Mouton Rothschild in South Africa. They purchased 40% of our stock! Our Cape distributors purchased 10% of the total production. We have also had enquiries from America, Canada and the Netherlands. 

Those who have tasted it want more. Our liqueur will probably be sold out by the time the IWSC results are available! Hurry if you would like a bottle.

2003 Harvest Update

Our last newsletter described an almost idyllic season. No diseases, healthy optimal ripe grapes and everything a winemaker could wish for. The Cabernet Sauvignon had not been harvested though and was approaching the harvesting date rapidly.

The weekend of 15 March gave us over 70mm of rain, literally days before harvest. We knew the rain was coming, but we did not know how much! Some producers harvested before the rain. We had not achieved optimal phenolic ripeness. We decided to wait it out. The rain was followed by clear and warm weather and eventually on 4 April we started harvesting. We had rot for the first time in the grapes and some slippery skins.

Our sorting table and rigorous selected harvesting did the trick! All unwanted grapes were removed.

We are still expecting  good quality Cabernet Sauvignon albeit a 15% reduction in volume. 

NEWS FLASH!

Stars for  DIVERSITY Beta (2001)

We submitted the wine to WINE magazine in South Africa for its "What's New" Tasting.

They described the wine as follows:

 " Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Black, crimson red rim. Spicy cassis, whiffs of oak and licorice. Concentrated dark berry fruit and plums on a complex palate. Lovely fruit and wood integration. 1 to 6 years."

Technical Detail of Beta is: 
Alcohol:  14%          
Sugar      1,3g/l                       
Acidity    5,96g/l                     
pH          3,70

DIVERSITY Beta was blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot and aged for 12 months in French and American Oak. 

Where to get your Fusion V 2001

Fusion V 2001, Diversity and Blackberry Liqueur are now available in the following countries. We include telephone numbers and e mail addresses:

Australia & Nieuw Zeeland

Cool Ridge International         
Tel: + 29 450 0881;
Fax:: + 29 450 0808;            email: levi_debilde@coolridge.net.au

Belgium

Matthys Wijn Import              
Tel: +32 50 386380;
Fax: +32 50 381677;       email: frank@matthys-wines.be

Canada

Liberty Merchant Company, British Columbia.                              
Tel: +604 739 7804; 
Fax: + 604 739 7800;  email: wine@libertymerchantcompany.com

HHD Imports Ontario.          
Tel: + 519 884 7600;
Fax: + 519 746 8368;    email: hhdimports@intown.net

MC Vins Diffusion              
Tel: +33 145 542092;
Fax: +33 156 433041; email: gabmar@wanadoo.fr

Netherlands

Cape Wine Line                 
Tel: +31 72 5404010;
Fax: +31 72 5401919; email: info@capewineline.com

South Africa

Terroir Group Johannesburg
Tel: + 27 11 784 3031;
Fax: +27 11 784 3036 email: terroir@carcasonne.co.za

Siris Vintners Cape Town    
Tel: +27 21 794 6681;
Fax: +27 21 794 6683: email: sirisvintners@mweb.co.za

Switzerland

Kapweine GmbH               
Tel: + 41  43 888 2121;
Fax:+41 43 888 2122;  email: andy@kapweine.ch

United Kingdom

Siegel Wine Agencies    
Tel: +44 125 670 1101;
Fax: +44 125 670 1518; email: nigelblundell@siegelwines.co.uk