Wightman & Sons
Wightman & Sons wonen en maken wijn op de Môrelig Vineyards. Deze boerderij ligt aan de voet van de Paardeberg in het befaamde Swartland. Het klimaat komt hier veel overeen met dat van de mediterraan. De boerderij is in 2011 door de familie Wightman gekocht zonder dat zij enige geschiedenis hadden binnen de wijn wereld en met intentie een rustig boerenleven te gaan leiden.
Nadat zij van hun buren te horen kregen dat de wijnstokken op hun nieuw gekochte boerderij van enorm goede kwaliteit waren hebben zij besloten om het avontuur aan te gaan en zelf wijn te gaan maken. Dit uiteraard met wat hulp van omliggende wijnmakers.
In 2015 werd zelfs al de eerste vintage uitgebracht. De wijngaarden bestaan uit niet geïrrigeerde bush vines op een afgebroken granieten ondergrond. Er worden 6 verschillende druivensoorten verbouwd op hun 24 hectare grote boerderij waarvan het oudste blok uit 1965 komt.
De wijnen van Wightman & Sons worden met minimale interventie gemaakt van duurzaam verbouwde druiven. De filosofie is er dan ook op gerichtom het zo simpel mogelijk te houden en om het terroir zo veel mogelijk terug te latenkomen in de wijn. De ‘reis’ van hun wijnen start dan ook echt in de wijngaard. Met dit gedachte goed zijn zij doen ook onderdeel van de Swartland Independent Producers.
Wijn informatie
Wightman & Sons Chenin Blanc
Farmed organically. Hand harvested from a bush-vine block that is more than 40 years old, whole bunch basket pressed, fermented and aged in old Oak barrels for 9 months.
No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2. Lightly filtered. An easy drinking Chenin with plenty of honey aromatics on the nose and a citrus finish on the palate.
Wightman & Sons A&B’s Blend
Farmed organically. Percentages can differ a bit per year but it mostly comes down to +/- 70% Chenin Blanc and +/- Clairette Blanche. Hand harvested, whole bunch basket pressed and fermented and aged in old Oak barrels for 9 months.
The two components blended together 1 month before bottling in a Stainless-Steel tank. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2. Lightly filtered. This wine is a joint project between father and son (Andrew & Brandon).
Wightman & Sons The Gentlemen and his small
Brother (Cinsault)
Hand harvested, part whole bunch semi carbonic macerated on skins for 5 days before pressing, part aged in old Oak barrels and part aged in a Stainless-Steel tank for 7 months before bottling. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2. Lightly filtered. A light red wine suitable for those warm afternoons. Don’t over think this wine just drink it.
Wightman & Sons Syrah (Syrah)
Farmed organically. Hand harvested form a 20+ year old bushvine block, part whole bunch lightly foot pressed, semi carbonic macerated on skins for 10 days. Basket pressed and aged in old Oak barrels for 9 months. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2. Lightly filtered at bottling. A light, fresh red drinking wine with peppery undertones typical of the Swartland. Also, some light notes of grapefruit at the end.
Wightman & Sons Old Bushvine (Chenin Blanc)
Farmed organically. Hand harvested, whole bunch basket pressed, fermented and aged in old Oak barrels for 9 months. Racked twice, after malolactic fermentation and just before bottling. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2. Lightly filtered.
The grapes are from a small block that is planted in 1965. It is interplanted with Cape Riesling, giving this wine its uniqueness.
Wightman & Sons Skin Contact (Chenin Blanc)
Farmed organically. Hand harvested from bush vine blocks, whole bunch lightly foot pressed in a floating dome tank and fermented on skins for 13 days. Basket pressed and aged in old Oak barrels for 9 months. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2 and infiltered.
Grapes used from 3 different parcels on the farm (Chenin Blanc planted in 2004, 1980 & 1965). Balanced tannic structure expressing the fruit. Lighter style of Skin Contact.
Wightman & Sons False Widow (Pinotage)
A special project from Brendon (the son). Hand harvested from a 25+ year old bush vine block, macerated on skins for 12 days, basket pressed and matured in old Oak barrel for 8 months. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2 and unfiltered. A very different kind of Pinotage style than most people are familiar with.
Since Pinotage is a crossing between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (also known as Hermitage), it was treated like a lighter style grape instead of a heavy (Bordeaux) style wine. The eventual wine is almost (hazy) Rosé like.
Wightman & Sons The Hedge Red Blend
Farmed organically. The percentages can differ per vintage but it mostly comes down to +/- 70% Syrah, and +/- 15% for each Carignan and Cinsault. The Syrah is hand harvested, part whole bunch fermented for 21 days, basket pressed and aged in old Oak barrels for 9 months.
Carignan and Cinsault are whole bunch semi carbonic fermented for 10 and 5 days respectively, basket pressed and stored in old Oak barrels for 1 month before being blended with the Syrah. Racked twice, after malolactic fermentation and just before bottling. No yeast inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2.
A great example of a wine in which you can notice all the different varietals. The pepper from the Syrah, the acidity from the Cinsault and the thick (almost bloody) mouthfeel from the Carignan.
