Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Gains heft from loads of quince, nectarine, pear and ginger flavors, but the spine shows excellent minerality, with a long, stony feel through the finish. Hints of quinine, verbena and chamomile add even more range. A pristine display. Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Sémillon Gris, Sémillon and Palomino.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Palladius comes in at 13.7% alcohol, one of the lowest for this label. It has a refined bouquet of dried honey, fern, smoked walnut and damp earth all very well defined. The palate is very well balanced with wonderful poise, a strong marine influence with a dash of white pepper and nutmeg towards the long and sustained finish. Another superb Palladius.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
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.