Linton Park does it again at Michelangelo Wine Awards

Two of our Linton Park Estate wines excelled at this year’s prestigious International Michelangelo Wine & Spirit Awards. The awards include a Grand D’Or, Double Gold for the Linton Park Estate Chardonnay 2016 and a Gold Award for the Linton Park Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016.

According to JG Auret, the winemaker, everyone at the estates is very excited about these accolades.

“The valley and mountainous slopes of the majestic Groenberg Mountains, overlooking Wellington with views as far as Table Mountain, offer us several diverse microclimates in which our vineyards are sited and which we optimise to craft exceptional wines.”

Linton Park Estate Chardonnay 2016

Linton Park Estates Chardonnay blocks are sited primarily on high mineral soil types, Oakleaf, Tukulu and Dundee on the mountain slopes. Supplementary irrigation is undertaken as needed and the Estate range grapes are handpicked at dawn on harvest days to keep the grapes cool for vinification. The Chardonnay vines are grown in some of the highest and thus coolest blocks on the Estate, these range from 380m to around 560m above sea level.

A beautiful elegant medium bodied Chardonnay, bursting with aromas of bright fruit of a lime-lemon purity and fresh tangerine. The lively aromas are followed onto the palate by complex notes of stone fruit, soft cinnamon spice and hints of butter. The finish is well balanced and lingering with clean citrus notes on aftertaste.

Linton Park Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The Cabernet Sauvignon vines average 20 years old and thrive on the decomposed high mineral granite Oakleaf with sub–dominant Grenrosa and Tukulu soil formations on the mountain. The blocks are carefully manipulated for high concentrated flavour from low yields. Controlled irrigation and a 7 strand hedge system are used with moveable foliage wires. The high trellis system ensures perfect vertical shoot positioning, the grapes are handpicked at dawn on harvest days in February to keep grapes cool for vinification.

A rich and full bodied wine with a generous core of dark berry fruit and well-balanced with firm tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon has a luscious, smooth texture with evocative spice from French oak aging on aftertaste.