Gabriëlskloof Rosebud Rosé Bot River 2024
A vibrant and juicy style of rosé, with aromas of wild strawberry, rhubarb and quince. A red apple skin note to the palate gives the wine complexity and crunch. The finish is refreshing and balanced with bright acidity and a rounded mouthfeel.
Located in the Bot River ward, the prevailing southerly winds from the nearby Atlantic Ocean moderate temperatures and create a mesoclimate perfectly suited to low-yielding vineyards. The vines are all between 16 and 19 years old and are planted on gentle north and south facing slopes at around 200 metres above sea level, on sandstone and shale soils.
The Syrah grapes for this wine were handpicked and cooled overnight. They were then whole bunch pressed with a short maceration to achieve a light colour. The must was fermented with indigenous yeasts and placed in stainless steel tanks to mature on lees for a few months. The wine was then gently filtered before bottling.
| RRP | £16.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13% |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Cape South Coast |
| Subregion | Walker Bay, Bot River |
| Grapes | Syrah 100% |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Located in the emerging Overberg region, Gabriëlskloof was founded by Bernhard Heyns in 2001 at a time when the land was just wheat fields and sheep. However, he saw huge potential in the region, buying a site which has grown to encompass over 60 hectares of vines. Innovative and precise winemaking is fundamental to the Gabriëlskloof philosophy, which is further reinforced by Bernhard’s son-in-law, Peter-Allan Finlayson of Crystallum.
Peter-Allan took over as winemaker from the 2015 vintage and steered the estate in a new direction. He has championed the use of indigenous yeast, whole bunch ferments and vessels such as clay amphorae and older oak, to express the quality of the fruit and better convey a sense of place in the wines. Peter-Allan now works as Cellar Master alongside the talented Anmar Van Niekerk, who became the estate’s winemaker at just 28. Together, they continue to elevate the wines to new heights. As a result, Gabriëlskloof was named as a First Growth in Tim Atkin’s 2023 and 2024 South Africa report.
Situated on undulating hills in Bot River (Botrivier), Gabriëlskloof’s vineyards are exposed to prevailing southerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean and Walker Bay. This stresses the vines and results in low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. The exposure also has a cooling influence, extending the growing season and encouraging slower ripening and increased flavour development, while retaining fresh acidity. The soils are Bokkeveld Shale and sandstone with quartz, known to restrict vigour and are particularly well-suited to producing perfumed and elegant expressions of Syrah and Cabernet Franc.
The vineyards are farmed sustainably with the support of vineyard consultant Rosa Kruger (hailed as “the queen of the Cape’s old vines” by Tim Atkin MW). Biodiversity is keenly encouraged with the use of cover crops and hundreds of species of fynbos, removing the need for pesticides. No herbicides are used and instead mulching is also carried out, which in turn retains soil moisture and enhances organic matter. They aim to move to organic farming in the future.
