Hermanuspietersfontein 2009 Die Martha

Hey Everyone,

Happily back in rainy St. Andrews, I am writing up a little review of an interesting bottle with a very difficult to pronounce name. Hermanuspietersfontein is one of my favourite producers for reasons other than the very classic Afrikaaner name. The last wine I had from their collection was the 2008 Swartskaap Cabernet Franc, a really pleasant and interesting, if slightly one-dimensional wine. It was a unique approach to a single varietal in South Africa which I have not seen elsewhere (though I do look forward with great anticipation to the Sijnn Touriga Nacional as soon as I do get a chance to try it).

Tonights wine however is a more classic example of a Rhone blend of 74% Shiraz, 23% Mourvédre and 3% Viognier. Initially the nose is pretty standard for a big South African red, with prominent cocoa, spice and black currant. It does develop a bit though and takes on a very old-world aroma of olive. Black rather than green olives, I would add, though with a few years of ageing ahead it is likely that green olive would become a dominant aroma on the nose. There is pleanty of leather and licorice with oak driven flavours of nutmeg, cinnamon and coconut as well as a touch of cigar box for added complexity.

While not a very challenging wine, it is overwhelmingly enjoyable and pleasing. While I think it might be a bit too confected for steak or lamb, I could see this going wonderfully with barbecues and slowroasted pork. I think some germanic food like sausages and boar would do nicely as well.

This is just the sort of wine I love on a cool evening in November, it's warming, pleasant and easily enjoyable. Hope you are enjoying something equally satisfying these days!

Much Love,

G

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Sijnn Rosé 2008

Hey Everyone,

Here's a recent bottle of interest that I came across on my recent visit down to London. It was a South African rosé made from barrel-fermented Mourvédre, Shiraz and Trincadeira, and was a striking example of just how cool a rose can be. I would rarely justify spending much more than £15 on a bottle of pink wine that isn't Champagne, but in this case I'll make an exception.

It was rich, with intense aromas of raspberries, strawberries and red currants and had a gorgeous complexity with a herbal, yeasty profile. The wine is darker than some kiwi Pinot Noirs I've come across showing a beautiful colour like red topaz. Despite the depth of colour, this is most certainly a rosé, with it's delicate, fruity flavours, complete absence of tannin and spritsy texture.

It may be a bit volatile, given it's slight sparkle, but in reality, this is a point in it's favour for me. It gives the wine a lift which many rosé wines lack and may contribute to it's intense fragrance. I also am a big fan of the use of Mourvédre as the base grape. This grape has given me the two best rosés I've ever had.

While this wine is quite difficult to get a hold of, being made on a very small farm in Swellendam South Africa, it may be found here and there in the more eclectic wine shops and online merchants around. Despite it's higher price tag of around £20, it is well worth it for perhaps the best non-sparkling rosé i've had in the past year.

Much Love,

G

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