Friday, February 19, 2021

Meerlust Red 2019


Meerlust Rubicon is one of this country's truly iconic red blends. Occasionally, very occasionally, after the requisite time in barrel and bottle in the Meerlust cellar, it is deemed by its makers to be less superb than it should be. It is then downgraded and simply called Meerlust Red. Experience has shown that, kept for a few years, this is still a wonderful wine. We were given a sample of the latest Meerlust Red, the 2019. On the nose and palate, it has rich berry fruit; we tasted raspberrry and blueberry as well as cassis. Assertive acidity, as one would expect from a young wine, and the fruit is not overpowered by the wood, which makes a subtle statement on the finish. It will be interesting to taste it again in five years, after which time we'd expect it to have matured very well. 18/20

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

South Hill Sauvignon blanc 2015

Another delightful mature wine. This one served with an artichoke pasta. We first saw South Hill Vineyards sauvignon blanc when winemaker Sean Skibbe, moonlighting as sales rep brought his wines to our shop in Sea Point in 2006. We loved it then and we love it now. This is the 2015. It still has vibrant acidity with flavours of nectarine and granadilla and a hint of cassis right at the finish.

Another good example of the benefit of keeping our sauvignons for a few years

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Silverthorn River Dragon

John Loubser has made an interesting new Cap Classique on his and Karen’s Silverthorn property near Bonnievale. When we visited them in 2019, John said that he wanted to make a bubbly from a 37 year old Colombard vineyard on the farm which is on the bank of the Breede River

He’s made it. We bought a case and opened a bottle for Valentine’s Day. Don’t compare this with Champagne although, from a quality perspective, it will hold its own, as one would expect from John, who has made excellent bubblies for many years. It’s unique, a stand-alone and it’s very good. A hint of dried grass on the nose, rounded off by a little chamomile. Being made from Colombard, it has a slightly tropical stone fruit profile; hints of greengage and a subtle whisper of ripe fig over a long bone dry finish with an active mousse. Delicious and fresh, but it should handle a few years’ aging very well. We’ll see, but we encourage you to try it.

https://www.silverthornwines.co.za/