Johan Joubert - Resigned Member
Johan Joubert grew up on his family wine farm in Bonnievale and with his father as mentor, grew up with the motto that “if you work hard for things in life, you will appreciate them more”. Pruning during the holidays with the vineyard workers on their wine farm, he fell in love with the grapevine.
Having successfully completed his 3-year Cellar Technology Diploma in winemaking at Elsenburg, he succeeded making a Muratie 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon under the watchful eye of Ronnie Melck and Beyers Truter (consulting). This earned him the title of being the youngest winemaker to win the General Smuts Trophy. A further highlight in his career was winning the 2001 Robert Mondavi Trophy for International Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in Bordeaux. Johan always stays humble in his approach and believes that the wine has to do the talking.
His philosophy and study to find the best part of the soil in one sight-selected vineyard block paved the way for Kleine Zalze’s selected Family Reserve Wines, earning Kleine Zalze numerous awards locally and abroad. This was highlighted by winning the Tri Nations Trophy for their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve.
The recent 5 Star John Platter and Wine Magazine awards for the Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz sets a good platform from where he can release his maiden crafted Guild Wine. Johan has an innovative approach to winemaking without losing sight of the old principles and traditions involved. He also realizes that honesty, hard work and passion are the key elements for a successful winemaker.
Johan decided to step down at the end of 2020 to focus on building his own brand.
Johan Joubert Wines
Auction Wines
Johan Joubert Wines Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
This “two barrel selection” wine was crafted from two small portions of hard-rock granite soil from separate famous Cabernet Sauvignon blocks, on the foothills on the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountain ranges. The shoulders of the bunches were removed at 80% veraison. Picked at 25º balling with a natural acidity of 6.7 and a 3.47pH. Traditionally punched down, followed by an extended skin contact period of five weeks. The wine was matured for 27 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
Johan Joubert Wines Granite Selection Chenin Blanc 2016
This “two barrel selection” wine was crafted from a small portion of saprolite granite
soil from the Helderberg mountain range. The grapes were from a 35-year-old bush vine
vineyard block. The grapes were reductively crushed and given a 24 hour extended skin
contact period, before settling. Halfway through cold-fermentation, at 12° balling, the
wine was racked into Seguin Moreau Icon Burgundy barrels and spent, with fermentation,
16 months on the lees before bottling.
Johan Joubert Wines Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
This “two barrel selection” wine was crafted from two small portions of hard-rock granite
soil from separate famous Cabernet Sauvignon blocks, on the foothills on the Stellenbosch
and Helderberg mountain ranges. The shoulders of the bunches were removed at 80%
veraison. Picked at 25° balling with a natural acidity of 6.7 and a 3.47pH. Traditionally
punched down, followed by an extended skin contact period of fi ve weeks. The wine was
matured for 27 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
This 'one barrel selection' wine was crafted from a small portion of hard-rock granite soil from the famous Cabernet Sauvignon block on the hill, where the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon originates from. Water retention in these specific rows is ideal, providing excellent drainage and balanced growth. Each bunch of grapes was hand selected according to pip ripeness. This wine was matured for 27 months in a new French oak Taransaud barrel before bottling. Tasting Notes: Waves of deep-piled forest fruit, a hint of rich, dark leafy and gamey notes with a pure, savoury, alluring combination of tomato leaf, black berries and cedar wood flavours on the palate. The 2012 vintage is a vintage of pure grape Cabernet fruit and delivers a long, lingering aftertaste with the white cedar oak tannin.
Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Chenin Blanc 2013
This 'one barrel selection' wine was crafted from a small portion of saprolite granite soil from a Helderberg mountain range. The grapes were from a 31 year old bush vine vineyard block which I saved from bulldozers. They were hand-selected and picked at 24,3 degrees balling, with a natural acidity of 7,52 g/litre with 3,49 pH. They were reductively crushed and given a 24 hour extended skin contact period before settling. Halfway through cold fermentation, at 12 degrees balling, the wine was racked into a Seguin Moreau Icon Burgundy barrel and spent, with fermentation, 16 months on the lees before bottling. Tasting Notes: Concentrated aromas of citrus-lime, herbs and winter melon fruit on the nose with fresh layers of apple on the palate. This magical finesse of fruit is well supported by the second fill French oak tannins that are well-integrated in the wine and gives this wine a tight, fresh and long, creamy, earthy finish.
Kleine Zalze 3 Expressions 2010
Each pocket of fruit, selected according to three different soils, was handled and harvested separately. The grapes from the soil with a higher percentage of clay were traditionally punched down and the balance from the soil with the most sand-lime percentage was pumped over. After 26 months in 100% new French oak, the barrels that delivered the best fruit expression of the terroir were selected. Tasting Notes: Piles of blackcurrant, spicy and wild-berry fruit on the nose and palate. A wine with savoury, well integrated fruit and wood tannin, with an alluring combination of elegant plummy fruit flavours.
Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
A small portion of hard rock granite soil was identified and with a phenolic analysis the total anthocynins of the grapes were 1184 mg/l. The shoulders of the bunch were removed at 80% veraison. The grapes were hand selected on the sorting table to ensure that only the purest fruit, even berry size and 100% pit ripeness were obtained. 50% whole berry and 50% slightly crushed grapes were cold soaked for three days. Inoculated with yeast, traditionally open fermented and punched down, followed with extended skin contact period of 5 weeks. The wine was then matured for 24 months in hand selected 100% French oak barrels of which the wood was 36 months seasoned. Drink this wine in 2020. Tasting Notes: Waves of deep-piled forest fruit, vegetative and gamey notes with a pure savoury tannin finish. A wine with a great length on the palate and with an alluring combination of black berries and cedar wood flavours.
Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
100% Cabernet Sauvignon The grapes were hand selected on the sorting table to ensure that only the purest fruit, even berry size and 100% pit ripeness was obtained. 50% whole berry and 50% slightly crushed grapes were cold soaked for three days. Inoculated with yeast, traditionally open fermented and punched down, followed with extended skin contact period of 5 weeks. The wine was then matured for 24 months in hand selected 100% French oak barrels of which the wood was 36 months seasoned. Tasting note: Waves of deep-piled forest fruit, vegetative and gamey notes with a pure savoury tannin finish. A wine with a great length on the palate and with an alluring combination of black berries and cedar wood flavours. Drink this wine in 2020.