Curious Case - April 2022 - Private

The Curious Case Selection

Coupon Code (for 10% off all of the below wines) - Curious0422
expires 01/06/2022

Out of all the New World, South Africa’s Cape region is the one that’s been around the longest. Vines were first planted in the Stellenbosch area, near the Cape of Good Hope, by Dutch settlers in the late 1600s and it was soon evident that this southwestern corner of the country would make an ideal wine-producing country. Today, with several of the country’s wine estates having a history to rival those of some of Europe’s famous names, South Africa is considered the most ‘Old World’ of the ‘New World’, if you get our drift. It has the traditions and heritage from long-established vineyards and estates along with the disregard for convention and general go-ahead innovation which are the hallmark of the world’s newer wine-producing areas. It’s a winning combination, and when you add in great bang for your buck price-wise, South African wines are worthy of the most serious consideration.

For this month’s Curious Case we’ve assembled a collection of reds and white aimed to give a good idea of the classic and cutting-edge styles coming out of this part of the world.

Meerlust Red

In a nutshell: A deep and spicy merlot led Bordeaux blend from one of South Africa's leading estates.
The lowdown: It's a wine which may have grown up in the shadow of its big sister Rubicon, but it certainly deserves more attention in its own right. Intense blackcurrant and eucalyptus nose mix happily on the palate with green pepper and tobacco notes. The tannins are nicely soft and silky which give a good all-round structure before it signs off with the signature elegant smokiness on the finish.
When to drink: It's excellent value for money and when pairing with food it's a red that will stand up well against spicy dishes.

Spier Signature Pinotage

In a nutshell: Classic South African Pinotage with a medium weight and nicely rounded body.
The lowdown: Pinotage is South Africa's homegrown grape variety and, in good hands like here, makes excellent wines. After fermentation in stainless steel 20% of the wine was matured in French oak barrels for 8 to 10 months with the remainder in stainless steel. The result is a wine with generous flavours reminiscent of sweet cherries and summer berries. There's a touch of smoke and smooth spice held together with attractively smooth tannins which lead to a nicely long finish.
When to drink: An easy-going Pinotage, but with enough oomph to pair well with pork, lamb chops, or burgers from the barbie.

Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Franc

In a nutshell: A biodynamic, hand-picked, South African Cabernet Franc.
The lowdown: Grown in sustainable vineyards with minimal mechanical intervention and no herbicides or pesticides. Waterkloof, like many good wine estates, believe its all about the vineyard and this wine is a prime example of that. Classic aromas of graphite, fresh leaves and red fruits leading onto a long and elegant palate with vibrant fruits, textured spice and a clean minerally core.
When to drink: Slow roasted lamb shank would be a great partner to this.

Post House 'Stamp of Chenin' Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch

In a nutshell: A rich, rounded and judiciously oaked South African Chenin Blanc
The lowdown: The vineyards for this wine are on the cool southerly sloping gravelly foothills of the Helderberg mountains which are ideal for making this style of Chenin Blanc. Owner and winemaker Nick Gebers says of his whites that their character is down to his hands off approach in the winery which is to interfere as little as possible in the natural winemaking processes. The result is a weighty and viscous wine with intense flavours of stone and tropical fruits, ripe orange, touches of sweet spice, and a long, honeyed finish. And it maintains a good acidity giving the wine precision and a satisfyingly clean finish.
When to drink: Drinking well now it'll also mature for a couple of years further allowing a further honeyed character to emerge. Seafood like scallops or lobster work well as does chicken or pork especially in rich creamy sauces.

Chamonix Unoaked Chardonnay

In a nutshell: A bright and zesty unoaked South African Chardonnay from the Franschhoek region of the Cape.
The lowdown: For this, Chamonix's Unoaked Chardonnay, they ferment the pressed fruit in stainless steels tanks and then leave it on its lees for a further 16 weeks to allow the essential, pure character of the fruit to fully marry into the wine. It's vibrantly aromatic with ripe apple, pear, tropical fruits and herbal notes on the nose followed by a clean and precise feel in the mouth with plenty of ripe, sun-drenched fruit and zesty, refreshing acidity which follows through to the wonderfully smooth finish.
When to drink: With its clean, pure and fruity character, it's a perfect aperitif wine and good a partner simply cooked fish dishes.

Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc

In a nutshell: An outstanding Sauvignon Blanc from the cooler Walker Bay region of South Africa.
The lowdown: Made reductively in order to maximize the fruit personality of the vintage, while maintaining the typical Southern Right balance of Old World minerality and length with hints of New World palate coverage and body. The 2017 is a wine that favours origin expressive individuality, minerality and palate complexity ahead of pure, pungent varietal aroma. A significant percentage of fruit from clay-rich soil has added an intense mid-palate structural component and addition overall complexity to this wine.
When to drink: Pairs well with fresh fish dishes, or things like a goats cheese tart.