So much wine, so little time. Here are some standout wines to try this May, paired with delicious recipes from our magazine.
From the famed cellar on Franschhoek’s pass comes the latest release of their flagship Pinot Noir. “Oak is only a platform to present this Noble Cultivar and not a curtain to hide it as in a theater play,” says Cellar Master Takuan von Armin. And as such, this vintage has been matured for nine months in 228L Burgundy Oak Barrels. Think berries, berries, berries with a smoky note of cherry tobacco. The berries continue on the palate, spiced with gentle oak, and fine tannins. Good crispy finish, especially if served slightly chilled.
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Deep salmon, this bright, fresh MCC sings with aromas of forest berries, with just a hint of mushroom. Fresh cherries and crushed strawberry make for a juicy palate, backed up by some toast character. Pop this for Mother’s Day: she’ll love the look of the bottle almost as much as the taste.
A stunner of a sauvignon blanc, its zestiness has been augmented by an added 10% component of barrel-fermented sémillon for a richer flavour profile. Uplifting aromas of citrus, pear, white peach and blackcurrant are laced with hints of fynbos scrub. On the palate there’s a flinty undercurrent that enhances the purity of the fruit.
A testament to cool climate chardonnay, this maiden release is being called ‘a terrain-specific single vineyard limited release’. Hailing from the Whitehall Farm in the Elgin Valley—one of the Cape’s coolest wine growing areas—its vineyard is positioned on south-facing slopes of which the soil is mainly white mineral sandstone and quartz on a clay sub-base. This elegant chardonnay offers lime and melon aromatics and a steely backbone.
“Every pocket of soil brings a different character and expression to the wine,” explains proprietor and viticulturist Johnathan Grieve. “The idea is to maximise the uniqueness of Avondale by giving each soil type a voice in Samsara.” Expect berries, white pepper and violets on the nose, which leads on to a rich yet fresh palate with flavours of plums, dark cherry and spice.
Written by Malu Lambert, wine writer.