Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Secateurs is Adi Badenhorst's blend of fruit from his family's old bush vines in Swartland, as well as from neighbors who also choose to dry-farm their old vines. In this vintage, it's 83 percent shiraz, along with Grenache and Cinsault, food-trod and fermented without added yeasts, then aged in a mix of old casks and concrete tanks. It's rustic, earthy and bright, with the kind of freshness and elasticity in the structure that makes a carefully grown, low-intervention wine so compelling.
Best Buy.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Literally meaning "the black land," Swartland takes its name from the endangered, indigenous "renosterbos" (translating to rhino bush), which used to be plentiful enough to turn the entire landscape a dark color certain during times of year. The district, attracting some of the most adventurous and least interventionist winemakers, excels in robust and full-bodied reds as well as quality fortified wines.