Our grapes are hand harvested in the early morning for freshness, using shallow picking crates to prevent berry bruising. They are transported in refrigerated trucks to our Franschhoek cellar, and packed in a cold room to reach5°C before pressing starts.
Three different quality fractions are retrieved at pressing: Cuvée – high quality free run juice, Première Taille – first extraction, and Deuxieme Taille – second extraction.
The juice is settled for three days before it is racked off the sediment. The clean juice undergoes cold fermentation.
A small fraction is fermented in second to fourth fill barrels, and the majority in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. No lees contact is given after fermentation. Malolactic fermentation is prevented.
Pinot Noir grapes bring colour to the rosé. This component undergoes cold maceration after being destemmed. This lasts approximately 10 days, after which the clean juice is racked off the skins and pips, before being inoculated with a yeast culture.
The Le Lude Reserve range undergoes secondary fermentation under crown cap in bottle, and aged Sur Lie, on the lees, in our dark temperature-controlled cellar for a minimum of 36 months before being disgorged.
A specific dosage of sugar is added to balance the wine’s palate.