The Avontuur Estate team and winemaker Jan van Rooyen was thrilled to learn earlier this month, that the Dominion Royale Shiraz Reserve 2011 was once again listed amongst the Top 100 wines entered for this competition.
Comments Jan; “We cracked the nod for the 2009 Shiraz Reserve in the 2012 competition as well, and now to be awarded the “medal” again for a later vintage, shows that we are on the right path in the development of this varietal on the farm. With the Helderberg area usually rated highly for its Bordeaux red varietals, the increase in awards for Shiraz over the last few years is a highlight for any winemaker in this cooler region of Stellenbosch and shows the potential of the terroir in relation to Shiraz.”
The Dominion Royale Shiraz Reserve 2011 forms part of the Estate’s Premiere range, all six of which are named after some of the great race horses who made the Thoroughbred Stud, a part of this successful farming operation, famous over the decades. The Shiraz is named after the Stud farm’s first stallion whose progeny made millions for owners around the world during his lifetime, and put Avontuur’s Stud operations on the map.
It is an elegant wine without any of the overblown woodiness sometimes associated with the varietal, with a prominent minerality offset against typical spiciness like white pepper, cinnamon and coriander, making it a perfect pairing with venison, pork and lighter red meat dishes.
The wine is available at specialist wine shops or selected retailers in the main urban areas country-wide, from the Estate’s on-line wine shop on this website or directly from the Estate Tasting Room at R145 per bottle.
