Cheers to the new year in wine ...
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 00:00
A look at some of the many wines that were released as the year drew towards an end – from star-rated performers to the hidden gems: Tullie Family Vineyards, The Year 2009:
Without a doubt this was one of the most sensational wines I sampled late last year at the opening of the Darling Wine Shop in this quaint West Coast village. A Bordeaux blend made of sauvignon blanc and semillon, it’s one of the most elegant and complex wines I have ever tasted, highly terroir driven.
David Tullie, the owner and viticulturalist of Lanner Hill, has his vineyards placed high on the hills close to the village overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and those cooling sea breezes add greatly to the character of the wines, beautifully made by Nicky Versfeld. The wine has a stunning balance of crispness, grassiness, green pepper and tropicality – desbribed by Nicky as “bright, powerful … with lime, citrus, fig and peach flavours and a waxy, full long finish”.
Owner of the Darling Wine Shop Charles Withington was certainly very generous in allowing guests to share and savour this wine, rated 4 stars in the latest Platter’s.
Haskell II 2009: A stunning debut wine made from shiraz (50%), cabernet sauvignon (42%) and mourvedre (8%). Winemaker Rianie Strydom says some of the cabernet ripened later than usual, and experimentation led to the grapes being co-fermented at the beginning rather than separately and done in the final process. A gorgeously intense nose of fruit and violets with some pepperiness, which carries through to the palate.
The wine spent 16 month in French oak barrels and the wood and fruit show perfect balance.
Oldenburg Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: Some of my favourite wines come from this spectacularly-situated winery, that is located off the Helshoogte Pass in the Banhoek valley.
Talented viticulturalist/winemaker Simon Thompson (with Philip Constandius as consultant) makes a clutch of outstanding wines to considerable acclaim. Newly opened is a tasting room which overlooks the vineyards, and it was here that I sampled several of the wines.
They’re all worth writing home about, but I particularly liked the 2008 cabernet sauvignon, a beautiful full-bodied wine where the oak offers up nuances of cigar box and pencil shavings, and the palate a fabulous balance of fruit with smooth but firm tannins. It all ends on a long velvety finish.
Bilton Sir Percy 2006: High up on the Annandale Road, is this estate owned by Mark Bilton. The flagship wine is a tribute to Mark’s late grandfather, the patriarch of the estate. Beautifully crafted by Rudi de Wet, this is a big bold cabernet sauvignon-driven blend (65%), the balance in almost equal quantites being merlot and petit verdot.
Aromas of leather, black olives and pencil shavings are lifted with nuances of violets. The tannins are soft and the wine’s great complexity is a result in part from its 22 months in oak barrels.
Darling Cellars Reserve Range Arum Fields Chenin Blanc 2011:
I had the good fortune to sample this wine with a lovely fish lunch overlooking the Langebaan lagoon a couple of weeks ago. Our very helpful and knowledgeable waitress suggested we try it over another chenin simply because “it’s much nicer”. She was right – a delightful chenin awash with ripe tropical fruit flavours, which is highly versatile matching both elegant fish dishes like crayfish or simply just fish and chips. And it won’t break the bank either.
Perdeberg Winery Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2010: This has to be one of my all-time favourites which never palls on me. The wine has a lovely balance between crispness and tropicality and those typical varietal flavours of gooseberries, some asparagus and capsicum surface pretty strongly, but do not overpower. Another wine that certain over-delivers on price.
Written by Orielle Berry You are reading Cheers to the new year in wine ... articles
