Profile of La Motte
One of the Western Cape’s rising stars, La Motte, is everything a premium winery should be. For a start, La Motte boasts an enviable terroir, cultivating over 55 hectares of choice vineyards in the Franschhoek Ward, an appellation which now competes with Stellenbosch for the title of South Africa’s finest wine region. Moreover, La Motte is fortunate to have a dangerously talented team behind its wines, led by cellar master Edmund Terblanche.
However, despite its modern face La Motte is one of the region’s oldest farms founded in the late 17th century. In 1695, a piece of land in the Franschhoek Valley was given to a German immigrant, Hans Hattingh, which was subsequently bought by the French Huguenot Pierre Joubert in 1709, who is believed to have named it after the village of his birth in Provence – La Motte d’Aigues. Viticulture on La Motte was established in 1752 by planting 4000 vines by Huguenot descendant Gabriël du Toit.
Yet for all La Motte’s historical pedigree, it’s still a (relatively) recent modern success story, having been purchased by the late Dr. Anton Rupert in the 20th century. Arriving at the estate for the first time in 1970, Anton saw the untapped potential of the farm’s terroir for producing fine wines and quickly set about harnessing that potential with his devoted wife’s help Huberte.
They soon instigated a major development, restoration, and conservation program, which reinvented La Motte into a leading global wine producer and sought-after tourist destination. Vineyards were progressively replanted with noble varieties, in conjunction with employing the latest viticultural practices and, of course, building one of the Western Cape’s most impressive cellars.
Today the farm is run by the dynamic duo Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg and her husband, Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte Wine Estate. Hanneli is a master of all trades, being both the estate’s owner and one of South Africa’s leading mezzo-sopranos! Together they make a formidable team, especially when they harness the talents of winemaker Edmund Terblanche. Their aim has always been to produce excellent (and affordable ) fine wines, and this splendid collection is certainly worth seeking out. Indeed everything impresses, but for our money, Hanneli R is the jewel in the crown – a rich, structured wine of great finesse and breeding. A fitting testament to the talent, energy, passion, and drive of its remarkable owners.
Wines produced
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2014 La Motte Methode Cap Classique
52% Pinot Noir, 48% Chardonnay. After whole-bunch pressing, the wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and blended - Fifteen per cent of the base wine was from the 2013 vintage that was matured in barrels. It was then subject to a secondary fermentation in bottle and matured on its lees for 32 months before disgorgment. A sugar free sparkling wine, ideal as a summer aperitif.
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2012 Hanneli R
60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Petit Syrah.The wines are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, before maturation in 300-litre oak barrels for 40 months. The prestige red of the property, suitable for extended cellaring.
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2013 La Motte Syrah
100% Syrah. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, before maturation in 300-litre oak barrels (30% new) for 14 months. Approachable on release, La Motte's Syrah will improve with bottle age.
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2013 La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks - after fermentation, the wine is aged on its lees for between 20 and 30 days. The wine is then matured in 225-litre French oak barrels – 33% new, 33% second-fill and 34% third-fill – for 14 months.
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2016 La Motte Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay. After whole-bunch pressing, a portion of the wine is fermented in 300-litre French oak barrels - one third is fermented in stainless steel tanks, without malolactic fermentation. After fermentation the wine is then aged on its lees for period of eleven months, in 25% new French oak.
Winery details
- Appellation
- WO Franschhoek
- Founded
- 1970 (estate acquired by Rupert Family)
- Area under vine
- 58 Hectares
- Age of vines
- 30 years+ Low yields
- Oak barrel origin
- French
- Winemaker
- Edmund Terblanche
- Owner
- Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg
- Production
- Approximately 1.5 million bottles per annum, depending on the vintage
- Grape varietals
- Syrah, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Viognier, Pinot Noir