COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2015
GRAPE
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
PRODUCER
Alto Estate
REGION
Western Cape
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
Medium - High
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Alto M.P.H.S. 2015 is a distinguished red wine from Alto Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The M.P.H.S. designation pays homage to the estate's foundational winemakers: Manie Malan, Piet du Toit, Hempies du Toit, and Schalk van der Westhuizen. The 2015 vintage is recognized for its exceptional quality, described as a 'perfect golf-swing' year where the growing and ripening seasons were particularly harmonious. This vintage also marks a significant moment with Bertho van der Westhuizen taking over winemaking duties from his father, Schalk, symbolizing a generational continuation of expertise. Alto Estate itself boasts a long history, established as a dedicated vineyard in 1919, and is one of South Africa's oldest producers focused exclusively on red wines. The Stellenbosch region provides a renowned terroir, characterized by decomposed granite soils and a favorable climate, which contributes to the wine's robust profile. This wine is considered a flagship offering from Alto Estate, representing the pinnacle of their winemaking tradition and the exceptional character of its origin.
ALCOHOL
14.8%
AVG. PRICE
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
NO
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
M.P.H.S. name honors Alto's first four winemakers.
Fact 02
2015 vintage was a 'perfect golf-swing' year.
Fact 03
Represents father-son winemaking transition.
Fact 04
Alto is South Africa's oldest red wine-only producer.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The Alto M.P.H.S. 2015 is crafted through a meticulous winemaking process. Each varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, is vinified separately. Fermentation occurs on the skins for over seven days in closed stainless-steel tanks at temperatures between 25° to 27°C, utilizing the pump-over method for extraction. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for 24 months in new 300-litre French oak barrels. A subsequent 18-month maturation period follows in a mix of first-, second-, and third-fill barriques, with 90% French oak and 10% American oak. The grapes are sourced from vines aged between 9 and 23 years, grown on decomposed granite soils at elevations ranging from 135m to 500m. Vineyard management includes drip irrigation when necessary and the use of a seven-wire Perold trellising system.
