Edelspatz, the esteemed Noble Late Harvest Riesling from Delheim, a renowned wine estate on Simonsberg, has once again solidified its position as a standout among South Africa’s Noble Late offerings. The 2023 Platter’s Wine Guide, the premier guide for evaluating Cape wines, has awarded Delheim’s Edelspatz Riesling 2020 a prestigious five-star rating.
This exceptional rating was bestowed upon the Edelspatz Riesling 2020, cultivated from a Riesling vineyard block entrenched in Delheim’s Simonsberg terroir. This vineyard, planted back in 1985, now proudly bears the distinction of a Certified Heritage Vineyard.
Delheim patriarch Spatz Sperling introduced the inaugural Edelspatz from the 1979 vintage. Since then, this wine has garnered acclaim both locally and internationally, earning its place as a leading exemplar of the quality inherent in Noble Late Harvest wines, a hallmark of the Cape wine industry.
“Among the 8,000 wines assessed by Platter’s this year, only 196 achieved the coveted five-star status,” emphasizes Delheim winemaker Roelof Lotriet. “To be included in this elite group is truly an honor, especially considering the continuous enhancement of South African wine quality. Our nation is currently producing some of the finest wines in its history. Edelspatz’s recognition reaffirms Delheim’s steadfast commitment to excellence, an intrinsic aspect of our ethos.”
The Edelspatz Riesling vineyard, occupying three hectares within Delheim’s Simonsberg soils of aged decomposed granite, is exclusively dedicated to crafting this unique style of wine.
“The 2020 vintage was nearly ideal for the development of botrytis (noble rot) on the grapes, as the Simonsberg experienced abundant rainfall during the summers of 2019 and 2020,” Lotriet explains. “By April, the grapes were enveloped by the pale grey fungus, a visually striking aspect for those unfamiliar with this enchanting natural facet of viticulture. The anticipation for the Edelspatz harvest is akin to a waiting game, as the ideal level of botrytis is sought. Some years, like 2020, we harvest this block in June. However, by the conclusion of May 2020, the synergy between botrytis and berry concentration reached the optimal point for harvesting.”
As is typical in botrytis-affected vineyards, yields are modest. The three hectares of Riesling earmarked for Edelspatz yielded a mere four tons of grapes for the 2020 vintage.
The grapes undergo whole-bunch pressing, followed by fermentation and a nine-month aging process in seasoned French oak barrels.
“Riesling is the preeminent grape for Noble Late Harvest, a fact demonstrated by generations of German winemakers over centuries,” Lotriet affirms. “The grape’s inherent firm acidity and vibrant fruit profile provide the ideal canvas for the characteristic interplay of honeyed fruit and invigorating freshness synonymous with this style of wine. As these wines mature, they assume a deeper hue and heightened complexity, revealing nuances of dates, spice, and marmalade. Noble Late Harvest, though sweet, never succumbs to cloying density. In my view, it ranks among the world’s exceptional wines, with Riesling serving as the pinnacle of the botrytis style.”
The prestigious Platter’s five-star rating is complemented by a 95-point score from Tim Atkin MW in his 2022 South Africa report.
