South Africa
Jennifer Sandford, Papillon Wines
Jennifer provided comprehensive notes which are available here - right-click to save.
1. Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2004
Greeny yellow, leggy. Wet dog
and pineapple. Rounded, full, good acid, citrus. 13.5% Very nice, fresh
and fruity. Bit dear though.
€13 - 13.50
2. Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Almost clear.
Gooseberry and green apple. In the mouth, citrus, acid, a hint of
sweetness (and only 12.5%); great finish Nice, but not a t the price.
€16-17
3. Kanu Chardonnay 2003
Lovely full, buttery nose
with huge toasty oak. Rum and butter bonbons, for those old enough to
remember. Decent acid, rich fruit, well-balanced, bit of burn (14.5%).
Lovely, although someone whose opinion I respect felt it lacked elegance.
I love it.
€16
4. Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc
2005 (Loire Clone)
More golden than the
Mulderbosch. Not a big nose, grassy. Good weight, great acifity,
crushed nettles, very well rounded.
€14.50 - 15.00
5. Backsberg Elba 2004
Really dark purple red. Quite
dumb, a bit herbaceous. Silky smooth with a slight burn (14.5%), leathery,
tooth-coating tannins, good fruit. Unfortunate hint of that
synthetic taste you sometimes get from Zin or Gamay, but otherwise very,
very nice. 30% Malbec, 17% Mourvedre, 19% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot, 9%
Sangiovese, 9% Zinfandel, 5% Viognier!
€16.50
6.
Darling Cellars "Black Granite" Shiraz 2003
Ruby, beginning to fade
around the rim. On the nose, spice, black fruit, fruit pastilles. Hugely
alcoholic (14.5% but not well-masked), fresh but being a bit overpowered,
bit of green-ness. Different.
€12
7.
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Deep
purple dreams! Eucalyptus and cassis. Dry, puckering tannins, lots of
fruit, good acid. 13.5% Needs time (10-15 years?) Very good but
pricey, need to lay down,; even so worth its star.
€28
8.
Steenberg Nebbiolo 2005
Nice light red. Prunes! Huge
alcohol, violets, tar. Stewed prunes, tannin, long finish. Alcohol coming
through way too much. 15%.
€18 - 19
9.
Steenberg Merlot 2003
Good looking, deep red.
Eucalyptus, chest-rub! Beautiful; mint, fruit, elegance, acidity. A
few years to go. 14.5%
€19 - 20
10.Raka
Quinary, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 2002
Lovely mid-red/ruby. Ripe,
leathery, cedar. Very well balanced, warm, vanilla, fruit, sour/condensed
milk (buttermilk?), well-balanced. Will keep. A Bordeaux blend; 59% Cab
Sauv, 17% Cab Franc, 10% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot. 14% alc.
Excellent.
€17.50