Iona, One Man Band Red, Brocha Vineyard, Elgin, South Africa, 2020

Producer Profile

The stony, north facing slopes in the cool Elgin district provide the warmth and aridness to grow and ripen grapes authentically and sustainably.

Small is beautiful, natural is best. Brocha Vineyards is home to 10 hectares of vineyards which produce One Man Band and Solace, a 15-hectare conservation area of fynbos, and 5 hectares dedicated to pastures for a small herd of Nguni cattle. This division of land is in keeping with Rozy Gunn's philosophy that a farm gives due recognition to the critical relationship between formal agriculture, natural vegetation, and animals to function as a healthy and independent farm organism.

Viticulture

From the 2008 vintage, Iona have decided to produce a red blend that is reflective of the best of the red wines they produce. It is a wine that refects two very different terroirs: the warm, ripe Syrah from Brocha vineyards lower down in the Elgin Valley, and the cool, fresh Cabernet and Merlot from Iona's vineyards, high up overlooking the Atlantic. The idea behind producing this wine is to produce something that is incomparable and unique to their property.

Winemaking

Vinification is very traditional. Hand harvested, before being destemmed and sorted on a vibrating table, the grapes were destemmed and not crushed. Once wild fermentation had started the skin cap was softly punched down 2 times per a day to achieve desired extraction. Post fermentation the wines underwent extended maceration; the wines were tasted regularly in order to assess the extraction level and when to press-off. Once pressed off, the wines undergo spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel where they were aged for 12-16 months, in 500L French oak barrels, of which 25% is new oak.

Oak Ageing

Time: 12-16 Months
Type: French
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 18 to 20

Tasting Note

This vintage has some cool climate peppery spice, grippy tannins, with layers of bramble and black cherry fruit.

Food Matching

An excellent full bodied red wine to accompany rich, hearty red meat dishes.