The TASTE case: six wines to try this month
From rare grapes and mysterious labels to unexpected locations, Woolies’ Allan Mullins reveals six secret finds for your wine collection
1 Bosman Nero 2016 The secret: A Sicilian grape that beats the heat
Heat and drought affect the quantity and quality of Cape wines, so Petrus Bosman went in search of a grape to withstand them. He found Nero d’Avola in Sicily, which he has released as a classy African first. Discover fresh berry aromas with hints of violets, lavender and fresh prunes.
2 Cederberg Bukettraube 2018 The secret: A rare grape grown in the Cederberg
“When people drink my wines, I want them to think of these untouched mountain ranges,” says David Niewoudt of Cederberg Private Cellar. It must be the cool, invigorating mountain air that’s responsible for the lush Muscat flavours, freshness and delicate sweetness of this Bukettraube (only 77 hectares of this rare grape are left in the world).
3 Arendsig SingleVineyard Chardonnay Block A15 2017 The secret: A hand-crafted terroir-driven wine from Robertson
Winemaker Lourens van der Westhuizen seeks out vineyards with unique soil, climate and location to create his singlevineyard wines. This must-try Chardonnay has peach, apricot, almonds and vanilla with a palate framed by succulent fruit and a fine, mineral finish.
4 Terra Del Capo Sangiovese 2015 The secret: A festive, food-friendly Italian grape
Sangiovese is the main red grape of Tuscany and is served in jugs at family feasts. Equally food-friendly is the Cape’s own Sangiovese, Terra del Capo. You’ll love the bright red fruits of cherry and plum with spicy notes on the nose, and the supple yet light palate, with a savoury touch adding interest to the vivacious fruit.
5 Domaine Grier L’Aqueduc 2016 The secret: A French wine produced by South Africans
This red comes from a wine farm in Roussillon in the south of France, which the Grier family, owners of Villiera in Stellenbosch, bought in 2006. It’s a lightly oaked blend of Shiraz, Carignan and Grenache that’s named after an ancient aqueduct built by the Romans in the third century. Enjoy spice, hints of oak, succulent ripe berry fruits, and notes of aniseed and black pepper.
6 Blankbottle Moment of Silence 2017 The secret: A label that keeps you guessing
Pieter Walser names each of his wines after an incident or experience in his life, but the label will neither explain this, nor tell you which cultivars are in the blend. You’ll have to visit blankbottle.co.za for that info. (I can reveal that Moment of Silence has concentrated stone fruit and a compelling texture that cries out for spicy shellfish.)