Midnight Maasai is the first South African Shiraz aged for an unprecedented 60 months in new French wood.
A once-off offering from grapes hand-picked and hand-selected from a single bloc of old vines on the ocean-facing slopes of the Helderberg Mountains in Stellenbosch, Midnight Maasai was hand-crafted to deliver an unusual and unique lifestyle experience worthy of its namesake.
This wine honours the past, present and future generations of men in our family. It is a once-off offering with an external intensity balanced by a tender inner core just like many of the men in our lives. The substance and style of this offering is appropriately conveyed through a label which features an original painting of a Maasai warrior by renown South African artist Velaphi Mzimba drawn from the winemaker’s private art collection.
A once-off private release of 5 barrels only.
Michelangelo International Wine Awards
AWC Vienna Wine Challenge
Florida International Wine Challenge
Vitis Vinifera Awards
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Vintage: 2002
Varietal: Shiraz
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Winemaker: David John Bate
Production: 5 barrels
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Yield (t/ha): 3 t/ha
°Balling/Harvest: 23 û
Alc (%/vol): 13.5%
RS (g/l): 2.1 g/l
TA: 5.3 g/l
VA: 0.8 g/l
FSO2: 31 mg/l
Ph: 3.5
Oak 60 months French oak (Nevers)
All new wood
Maturation: Barrel matured with MLF (la malo) in barrels
UPC: 6009812400187 (individual bottles)
SCC: 06009812400194 (cases of 6 bottles)
TASTING NOTES
Appearance
As Maasai warriors clad their bodies in red cloth and cover their hair with red clay to convey their stature and power, the rich red hues and black flesh tones of this offering foreshadow the strong yet subtle personality of this complex and full bodied wine.
Nose
Satisfying sensations of black liquorice, black currants and dark chocolate yield to top notes of roasted peppers and rosemary with subtle undertones of cocoa and coffee beans. Whispers of cedar wood and long leaf tobacco allude to the oak-influenced personality of this multi-faceted wine.
Taste
Smooth tannins, supple textures and subdued acidity introduce a fruitful mouth filling palate. Early layers of wild blackberries, lush black currants and burnt orchard cherries yield to mid-palate nuances of vanilla, liquorice and roasted black peppercorns. Trailing tones of mocha and melted dark chocolate culminate in a smooth, lingering finish reminiscent of a steak seared over a slow burning sagewood fire on the open savannah of the Maasai Mara. A truly enjoyable and exclusive lifestyle experience.