" We don't sell the wine without touching the vine "
Wine from La Motte
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The La Motte Estate
Situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley in South Africa’s Cape winelands, La Motte is home to some of South Africa’s finest wines, recognized internationally for their exceptional quality. In harmony with the production of wines, La Motte has also ventured into flower cultivation and the production of ethereal oils. True to its philosophy of a culture of excellence, La Motte maintains a programme of consistent quality improvement, reaching beyond wine production. The estate has a strong commitment to historic and cultural preservation, as well as the active socio-economic upliftment of its workers and their families. With its picturesque setting, historic buildings and rural atmosphere, La Motte is an enchanting destination for visitors to the winelands of the Cape.
La Motte is synonymous with the highest quality in wines. To carry the La Motte label, each wine has to reflect the greatest expertise in viticulture, combined with experience, passion and a creative flair in wine-making.
Annually a total of 1 000 tons of grapes are processed in La Motte's modern cellars, where old-world wine-making methods are combined with state-of-the-art technology.
History:
In 1695 a piece of land in the Franschhoek Valley was granted to German immigrant Hans Hattingh. In 1709 French Huguenot Pierre Joubert purchased the land and named it after the village of his birth in Provence, La Motte d’Aigues. With the planting of 4 000 vines in 1752, viticulture was established on La Motte by Huguenot descendant Gabriel du Toit. The farm passed through several owners before being acquired by the Rupert family in 1970.
Today, La Motte owner Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg and her husband Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte, oversee La Motte’s making of exceptional wines as well as diversifying La Motte's operations into flower and ethereal oil farming.
The La Motte Vineyards
The unique charm of La Motte’s wines can be attributed to particular soil types, a moderate climate as well as a team of dedicated experts who keep abreast of international viticultural and vinicultural practices.
Viticulturist Pietie le Roux, who majored in viticulture, viniculture and pomology at South Africa’s leading agricultural training institution, has been in charge of La Motte’s vineyards since 1986, assisted by a highly motivated workforce.
“Fine grapes make fine wines”, says Pietie, “therefore we constantly try to improve our harvest results and apply findings obtained from ongoing research and developments in viticulture”.
The most modern practices are employed in the selection of vineyard sites, rootstock and clones, grape varieties planted, vineyard facings and vine spacing. Through extra high trellis poles, a bigger canopy of leaves is created, allowing more leaves to absorb the sunshine, enhancing early ripening and the formation of prominent aromas. The bigger canopy also protects the grapes against direct sunshine. Vine growth is restricted, to limit grape size and promote a high-quality extract, ideal for the production of elegant, complex wines.
These practices are further refined by the precision of science. The latest technology is applied, including GIS (Geographical Information Systems), by which the farm is scanned by satellite, monitoring and controlling the effects of slopes, radiation, micro and macro climates and soil classification.
Through infrared scanning, vine conditions such as stress and irrigation demands can be pinpointed by vineyard block in order to be addressed accurately. In specified vineyards on the La Motte Nabot farm in the Walker Bay region – from where grapes for La Motte wines are obtained – SGS-certified organic farming is practised, totally eliminating the use of chemicals and insecticides, thus promoting health benefits.
Furthermore, La Motte is equipped with a weather station and temperature monitoring system – loggers in vineyards determine humidity, moist conditions and temperatures in zones where grape bunches are formed.
Conscious of the effects of agriculture on the natural habitat, La Motte is accredited to the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), a partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector. The objective is to help keep biodiversity intact so that species and ecosystems are able to adapt to changes in the environment and to recover more readily from disturbances in their natural growth system.
Grapes are sourced from the Elgin (34%), Franschhoek (20%), Walker Bay (20%), Nieuwoudtville (9%), Darling and West Coast (8%), Durbanville (5%) and Elim (4%).
Grapes from Franschhoek and Walker Bay are organically grown.
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La Motte Merlot is made from 100 percent Merlot.
La Motte Merlot offers a bouquet of red currants, cherries and spicy oakiness. It is an elegant, well-balanced and juicy wine with an underlying, refreshing quality.
Excellent with lamb, roasts or casseroles.
Review:
"Medium garnet color. Aromas and flavors of smoked meat, toast, leather, grilled plum, baked cherry tart, cracked black pepper, and myrrh with a round, lively, dry medium body and a smooth, interesting, medium-long finish with notes of chocolate-covered pecans with well-integrated, fine, firm tannins and light oak flavor. A savory and juicy Merlot with a strong sense of place; try with most meat dishes."
- Beverage Testing Institute (April 2021), 90 pts
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Morlet Family Vineyards Mon Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot .
Located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, near Calistoga, this vineyard benefits from its proximity to Mount St. Helena, whose warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the Bordeaux red varietals. Handcrafted by using classical winemaking techniques, this special wine is dedicated to our son, Paul Morlet.
Dark red with a hue of purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blue berries intermixed with notes of blueberries, minerals (graphite, wet river rocks) licorice, fresh blond tobacco and a hint of lavender. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a richly tannic yet round frame and a great intensity. The hillside tannins and the classical aromatic complexity create a harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long and elegant finish. Built to age for decades, this collectible wine opens up after a few years of cellaring and is particularly representative of this special vineyard from the hillside of Knights Valley. Mon Chevalier features the interaction of the loamy, well drained and rocky volcanic soil, the typical sunny mountain climate and the low-interventionistic Morlet winemaking approach.
Propietary Name Mon Chevalier
Name Meaning My Knight Named after our son, Paul Morlet
Type of wine Vineyard designated
Appellation Knights Valley
Vineyard singularity Morlet Family Estate Hillside 1100-1200 feet elevation Rhyolitic, loam & volcanic ash
Typical harvest date End of October
Picking Manual, small lugs, refer truck
Sorting Cluster by cluster, berry per berry
Fermentation Through native yeast Tank and Puncheons
Upbringing 16 months French oak from artisan coopers
Bottling Unfiltered
Cellaring time Decades
Serving Room temperature
Decanting recommended
Review:
The estate-grown 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black in color, it charges forth with intense notes of crushed black cherries, black berry preserves and cassis scents with touches of spearmint, Indian spices, espresso and dried lavender plus a waft of roses. Full-bodied, the palate reveals incredible restraint, slowly revealing earth and black fruit layers framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing very long and spicy.
-Wine Advocate 96+ Points
Moving to the top releases, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier comes from Knights Valley and was brought up in puncheons. A gorgeous bouquet of sandalwood, violets, loamy earth, and incense as well as some iron-laced black and blue fruits flow to a rounded, supple, incredibly textured Cabernet that has sweet tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It’s already terrific yet will keep for 20-25 years or more.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Sirah, 1% Syrah
A homage to Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery became an obsession. Sourced from exceptional vineyard sites around Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and south to Edna Valley, this wine is cultivated meticulously by the farmers who have become My Favorite Neighbors. With their dedication to the land, we are able to craft a world class wine without any shortcuts or compromises. Welcome to our Neighborhood. 2020 abundant winter rain and a long, moderate growing season allowed for extended hang times and exceptional fruit quality.
The 2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon fills the glass with a seamless culmination of black cherry, cassis and warm spice. On the palate, you are rewarded with a full body displaying blackberry and plum with underlying notes of tobacco. An additional layer of red fruit and a pop of acid, combined with well- integrated tannins and a beautifully crafted structure, leave nothing to be desired. This is a serious wine that can be enjoyed and respected by all.
Review:
A homage to Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery became an obsession. Sourced from exceptional vineyard sites around Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and south to Edna Valley, this wine is cultivated meticulously by the farmers who have become My Favorite Neighbors. With their dedication to the land, we are able to craft a world class wine without any shortcuts or compromises. Welcome to our Neighborhood.
The 2022 My Favorite Neighbor is everything you’ve come to expect from our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from our favorite Paso Robles growers who lend their neighborly spirit to the wine. Effusive aromas of raspberry and currant reveal notes of blue fruit and purple flower. On the palate, juicy red fruits are interwoven with hints of black cherry, cinnamon and toasted oak. Structured tannins carry into a long, chewy finish. Whether it’s a casual backyard barbecue or a fine celebratory meal, this versatile wine has you covered for summer and beyond.
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