Winemaker Notes
The nose invites with its ripe mandarin orange, nectarine, angelica, and peach blossom aromas. The intense citrus of the nose follows through onto a vibrant mid-palate, also showing lime, lemon verbena, and lemongrass against a backdrop of fresh tangerine, orange peel, and preserved lemon flavors with integrated acidity. The stone fruit character adds to the complexity on the palate, and the slightly spicy finish, with hints of quince and star anise seed compliments a very balanced wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
ublime, with creamed tangerine, orange and nectarine flavors that are seamless and lengthy, laced with paraffin, verbena, bitter almond and orange blossom accents along the way. The long and very refined finish lets a flash of citrus oil linger longest. Drink now through 2028.
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Wine Enthusiast
Medium-intense, ripe notes of yellow melon, creamed orange, pineapple and lemon custard lead the nose of this rich yet well-balanced wine. There’s a baking spice overlay to the nose as well, though the ripe fruit dominates. The palate is quite round and spicy as well, with loads of ripe, mouthfilling melon and citrus oil flavors that are cut by ample acidity. Orange blossom tea and spiced almond accents unfold on the lengthy finish. Best after 2020.
Sémillon has the power to create wines with considerable structure, depth and length that will improve for several decades. It is the perfect partner to the vivdly aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. Sémillon especially shines in the Bordeaux region of Sauternes, which produces some of the world’s greatest sweet wines. Somm Secret—Sémillon was so common in South Africa in the 1820s, covering 93% of the country’s vineyard area, it was simply referred to as Wyndruif, or “wine grape.”
Originally named Franschhoek meaning the “French Corner” because it was home to the influx of French Huguenots, today the valley contains many historic cellars and is an important tourist location because of its proximity to Cape Town.
This valley falls to the southeast of Paarl and is enclosed on three sides by towering mountains. Streams from the slopes flow down to the valley floor, converging to form the Berg River. The area excels in the production of full-bodied reds.