Category Archives: South Africa

Sonoma State Sensory Evaluation Workshop

Staying ahead of flaws in the cellar and quantifying perceptual differences and consumer preferences are critical to a winery’s bottom line.  Following our return from New Zealand, Sonoma State’s Wine Business Institute will partner with VESTA to again offer this … Continue reading

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Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Mulderbosch, Western Cape, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 The nose shows a strong sense of herbaceousness, fresh bell pepper, sliced open and in hand. In the mouth it is dynamic, quite fresh and as in prior vintages, assertive in its herbaceous and acidic … Continue reading

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Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Mulderbosch, Western Cape, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose features minerality and green herbs. In the mouth this Sauvignon is as zippy as usual, green, acidic and quite refreshing. P&B in Stellenbosch 12.5% purchased for $15.99 at Bottle Barn Mulderbosch

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Mulderbosch Chenin 2008

Mulderbosch, Western Cape, Chenin Blanc, Steen op Hout 2008 The wet stones are dancing out of the glass with a touch of herbaceousness and citrus. The mouth sports plenty of acidity yet not without the extract to keep up with … Continue reading

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Sauvignon Republic Stellenbosch Sauvignon 2007

Sauvignon Republic, Stellenbosch, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This wine is no slouch in its intensity, with the grassier side of herbaceousness on display.  Back in November we tasted this bottling along with the Marlborough and the Russian River bottlings in the … Continue reading

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Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2007

Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Pinot Noir 2007 Like the previous vintage, this wine is a rustic style of Pinot. I’d like to try another bottle before passing judgment. Grown, made, matured and bottled on the estate in, Hermanus 13.5% … Continue reading

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Sebeka Western Cape red wines 2007

Sebeka, Western Cape, “Cape Blend”, Shiraz Pinotage 2007 There’s a sense of sweet black fruit and oak in the nose that carries through in the mouth as well. The wine is extremely soft and low in acidity with a touch … Continue reading

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Steen

Sebeka, Western Cape, Chenin Blanc 2008 This is a softer version of Chenin than you might expect from South Africa. While the Chenin produced at Mulderbosch and Thelema have electrifying acidity, this has a softer touch of the acid hand … Continue reading

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SA Pinot

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Walker Bay Pinot Noir 2006 Quite earthy, toasty and tannic. Grown, made, matured and bottled on the estate in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus 14% $31.99 at Bottle Barn Hamilton Russell

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Refreshers from the deep south

This flight features two wines from a personal favorite winery, Mulderbosch. Neither of these wines is shy in the acid department and the Sauvignon is particularly herbaceous – yummmm! Mulderbosch, Stellenbosch, Chenin Blanc, Steen op Hout 2007 P&B in Stellenbosch … Continue reading

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