Two decades of Breedekloof Nebbiolo
The Nebbiolo story begins nearly 20 years ago after our winemaker’s extensive trip to the northern parts of Italy. Inspired by the wine and similarities between Piedmont and Breedekloof terroir, Nebbiolo was planted at Dagbreek farm along the river.
Soon after the wine’s first release, the new kid on the block became an experimental variety that our winemakers loved to uncover. Vintages were always released around four to five years after harvest as the winemakers wanted to allow the tannic grape to battle the barrel for 16 months. The wine was also always left to age a little longer in the bottle in order to produce a softer style. Despite this, our latest 2020 vintage was the youngest release of the wine yet and already shows an elegance that can be enjoyed even in summer when the wine is chilled.
“The deep-coloured wine with cherry fruit, spice and rose petals on the nose lingers as she leaves a trail of finesse in the Du Toitskloof Legacy range,” says Ed Beukes, Du Toitskloof Marketing Manager.
Du Toitskloof Legacy Range
In the reference book, Wine Grapes, this is penned: “The siren like beauty and power of the finest examples of Barolo or Barbaresco (Italian designations for areas where Nebbiolo is produced) have lured producers around the world to try their hand and their land with this variety, just as they have done with Pinot Noir but so far on a much more limited scale. It is not a very adaptable variety, its all-important fragrance is decidedly fragile, and it has shown a marked reluctance to travel.”
When we look at more recent accolades and awards, we think Nebbiolo may have found a home away from home in the Breedekloof and will be here to stay as a Du Toitskloof wine. This year alone our 2020 vintage was awarded 90pts by both Decanter World Wine Awards as well as Gilbert&Gaillard showing that the international pallet more than approves our South African take on the Italian King of the Reds. Furthermore vintages 2016 and 2020 were both awarded Double Platinum by the National Wine Challenge in South Africa and listed under their Top 100 SA Wines both in 2021 and 2022.
Malu Lambert writes in the 7th volume of JAN the Journal, “A mystery made of smoke and rose petals. One of the most ancient grape varieties, Nebbiolo brings to mind gilded and soaring Christendom churches, angels carved into flightless motion, the musk of pluming incense.
It’s a grape that conjures up the power, prestige, and solemnity of the Vatican. In fact the first mention of Nebbiolo is found in texts dating all the way back to 1266 making it very much a grape of the Middle Ages. The grape is so old that researchers have concluded its parents are extinct; its origins lost in the scented mists of time.”
