Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Pierneef Shiraz / Viognier is an instant success with spicy dark fruits, black pepper, elegant red and purple flower petal, dark plum, blackberry and cassis bursting from the nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the Viognier gives an elegant lift, while a soft note of integrated oak spice adds to the complexity of the mid-palate. The finish is long, focused and pure, showing the heart of Syrah. It's a well-balanced, beautifully made wine that has complexity and delivers pleasure. For the price, this will be hard to beat.
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.
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.