Introduction to The Rondekop Series Wines
The Rondekop Series wines represent a small selection of the best barrels from either a single cultivar, or a blend of cultivars from iconic Rondekop hill. Here there are eight natural elements which uniquely impact the vineyards, creating quintessential wine producing conditions - with the perfectly round hill, Rondekop, at the centre of it all: the eighth natural element.
Rondekop: The Eighth Natural Element
Rondekop forms the centrepiece of these vineyards, rising to an elevation of 410m. The soils on Rondekop are mineral rich: weathered sandstones and granites with iron, manganese and various other rare trace elements. Varying from rocky to intensely rocky, the soil has high water retention due to the clay sub-soil.The shape of the hill itself generates a gentle breeze, allowing beneficial air movement through the vines even on warm, windless days. Vines are juxtaposed between warm sunlight and the cooling impact of elevation and cool breezes.
The Interplay of Natural Elements
This confluence of natural elements is rarely found in a single location. The interplay between them creates a rich biodiversity and this richness in turn creates complexity and a deep and wide flavour spectrum in our wines. The coolness brings a fresh, balanced acidity while the warm sunshine develops phenolic ripeness (the ripeness of the whole bunch, including tannin changes in the skin and seeds, as opposed to ripeness only in terms of the sugar in the juice).
Rhodium: A Right Bank Bordeaux Blend
Rhodium is our Right Bank Bordeaux blend - Cabernet Franc led, with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, although the composition changes slightly from vintage to vintage. Named after the precious metal - Rhodium - which occurs naturally with the platinum group of metals, Rhodium is considered to be one of the rarest and most valuable metals in the world. Eighty-five to ninety percent of all Rhodium is mined in South Africa and it is used in the making of luxury jewellery.
Oldenburg’s Precious Analogy
Oldenburg’s owner, Adrian Vanderspuy, has been fascinated by (and involved with) precious metals for many years. To his mind, South Africa being the primary source of such a unique, precious material provides the perfect analogy for the incredible potential of South African wine - and specifically the stunning quality of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grown on Rondekop.
The Source of Merlot and Cabernet Franc for Rhodium
The Merlot for Rhodium comes from ‘The Long Block’ of Merlot at the foot of Rondekop which has an ideal layer of clay in the subsoil structure. This allows the roots of the vines to access moisture, which is vital to quality Merlot fruit production. The Cabernet Franc is from a block located close to the Merlot and adds herbal notes to the Merlot’s dark fruit characteristics.
