Category Archives: Red Wine – South Africa

Idiom, Sangiovese, 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

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Idiom, Sangiovese, 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

Idiom, Sangiovese, 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

 

In 2017 we went to South Africa and did a little wine tasting at Idiom. Its quite a place with amazing views and excellent food in the restaurant they have at the vineyard.

Its a solid red wine, not to heavy with very soft balanced tannins and a hint of sweetness. Lots of red cherry and raspberry with notes of tobacco, oak, leather and vanilla with a little smokey undertone that pops through.

Pair with beef or a tomato pasta dish for a perfect match.

Haskell II, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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Haskell II, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Haskell II, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

 

2 big grapes from Stellenbosch mean this red from Haskell II was always going to big and ballsy. Dry, rich, smooth, very smooth with black cherry and plum, leather and spice sitting in the background. It’s only problem is the price at £23 a bottle.  Knock the price in half and you have a excellent wine at a decent price.

Creation, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, 2020, South Africa

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Creation, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, 2020, South Africa

Creation, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, 2020, South Africa

 

I’ve had Creation, Pinot Noir, from previous vintages before and remembered it being better. Its dry, reasonably light but it’s also light on flavours. There’s lots of red cherry a hint of vanilla and oak that occasionally comes through but it’s just light, one dimensional. The wife loved it and her palette is much better than mine so I will bow to her judgement that it’s got more going on than I could taste.

Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, Pinotage, 2014, South Africa

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Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, Pinotage, 2014, South Africa

Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, Pinotage, 2014, South Africa

 

This is the best Pinotage i have tasted, Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, 2014 is stunning. Purchased during a trip to the vineyard in 2017 its a dry red with well integrated tannins, incredible smooth and luxurious in the month. Red and black fruit flavours with oak and vanilla notes, a little spice and overall softness made it a wine to sip over a few evenings, which is rare in our household.  At £25 a bottle in 2017 I wish I had brought more home.

The vineyard also did a honey and wine tasting,  a wonderful experience.

Brampton Estate, Roxton, 2018, South Africa

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Brampton Estate, Roxton, 2018, South Africa

Brampton Estate, Roxton, 2018, South Africa

I visited Brampton vineyard many years ago and found it to have excellent wines and port. This red blend is no exception for me it’s a crackling red wine. Dry, with solid body and tannins and good length this has flavours of red and black fruits, leather, oak, vanilla and hints of chocolate and tobacco.

The down side is the price at £17 a bottle, not outrageous but not your everyday wine.

Rupert and Rothschild, Classique, 2018, Paarl, South Africa

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Rupert and Rothschild, Classique, 2018, Paarl, South Africa

Rupert and Rothschild, Classique, 2018, Paarl, South Africa

 

Rupert and Rothschild, Classique, 2018 from Paarl, South Africa It’s a truly staggering wine for it’s got so much flavour and depth and balance that it will just blow your mind. There’s plenty of dark red and black fruits with hints of chocolate and tobacco with an undertone of oak with firm tannings to bind everything together. At about £30 a bottle it’s not cheap but then again this is fantastic wine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rustenberg, John X Merriman, 2020, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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Rustenberg, John X Merriman, 2020, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Rustenberg, John X Merriman, 2020, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,  Petit Verdot and Malbec snd left in the cask for 20 months makes this red blend from Rustenberg rather good. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours, spice, leather, oak notes with a slightly smokey under tone lifts this above the completion.  At £14 a bottle it’s not cheap but it’s very nice.

 

Vinalba, Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional, 2020, Argentina

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Vinalba, Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional, 2020, Argentina

Vinalba, Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional, 2020, Argentina

Vinalba make a lot of wine and it’s generally decent.  This is no different it’s a fairly simple dry red wine with decent length and flavours of cherry,  redcurrant, a little blackcurrant and hints of chocolate.  The IWC gave this 95 points which seems very high to me. It did go very well with a big plate of cheese and biscuits but at £12 a bottle it’s a bit overpriced, its wine to just drink not to think about.

 

Catherine Marshall, Peters Vision, 2017, South Africa.

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Catherine Marshall, Peters Vision, 2017, South Africa

Catherine Marshall, Peters Vision, 2017, South Africa

Made with cab franc and merlot this is good morning red from South Africa. So pretty bold wine reasonably smooth with Titanic’s and very dry. You have flavours and aromas of black fruit, oak and herbaceous notes but with a leather and earthy undertone.

It’s one to drink with food definitely a good steak or tomato based pasta and at £25 a bottle it’s a little bit on the pricey side that said it’s a very good bottle.