Old-vine Cape of Good Hope Semillon delivers ‘character in spades’

THE Cape of Good Hope range in the portfolio of Anthonij Rupert Wines, Franschhoek, was launched in 2011 as part of proprietor Johann Rupert’s initiative begun in 2006 to help protect the old vines of the Cape as producers of distinctive, terroir-specific expressions of various grape varieties. One of these treasured ‘pieces of history’ comprises bush-vine Semillon on Henk Laing’s farm, a stretch of land between Lambert’s Bay and Clanwilliam on the slopes of Skurfberg Mountain overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Planted in 1956, the meter-high vines in red sand on clay are among the oldest in South Africa, surrounded by wheat fields, apricot trees, rooibos tea bushes and fynbos. The result: “Intense, weighty wines with character in spades.”

Cape of Good Hope Laing Semillon 2015

WO Citrusdal Mountain district, Olifants River region. Bush vines planted in 1956.
Fermentation in steel tanks. Six months on the lees/spent yeast. 54% of the wine spent time in large French oak barrels (1600-litre foudre).
Alc 13.5 | R/S 3.0 | TA 6.2 | pH 3.1
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: stone fruit aromas – nectarine and peach – tinged with a honeyed note and a light lanolin nuance; a flinty feel; subtle use of oak; finish long and rich with gentle hint of wax.
R120 pb at the cellar in Franschhoek.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Want to have your say?