Spice Route’s Amos wines from where old Sauvignon seems out of place
AS THEY SAY: “The new age of the Swartland commenced in 1997 when [Fairview proprietor] Charles Back stumbled across an old tobacco farm, Klein Amoskuil. Bewildered by the quality of grapes in a region better known for its wheat and rolling fynbos hills, Charles set forth to acquire the farm and study its soils and extreme climate. Hence the Spice Route Winery was born.”
The Amos Block of bush vines planted in 1965 is South Africa’s oldest Sauvignon Blanc vineyard on record. Farmed without irrigation, it only results in less than a ton of grapes per hectare and is only used to make wine in exceptionally mild vintages. But what’s bottled as a dry white expression of the variety exhibits distinct aromatics and a certain ‘grain’. Plus, the Amos Block is also the origin of a sherry-style fortified wine, the first of which was the product of three vintages (2014 to 2016) and released in 2017 – only 360 bottles produced.
Spice Route Amos Block Sauvignon Blanc 2017
From dryland bush vines planted in 1965. WO Swartland.
Alc | 13 | R/S 2 | TA 6.1 | pH 3.4
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: aromatic; notes of gooseberries, nettles and minerality; refreshing.
R111 pb at the Spice Route tasting room, Paarl.
Amos Block Perpetual Reserve Under Flor NV
From dryland bush Sauvignon Blanc vines planted in 1965. WO Swartland. Fermented in old French oak barrels. Flor yeast. Solera multi-vintage process. Bottled unfiltered. Bone-dry Fino style.
Alc 15 | R/S 2.3 | TA 6.1 | pH 3.6
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: youthful, pale dry Sherry-style fortified wine, with hints of apples, almonds and walnuts on the nose; lingering finish; serve chilled.
R343 pb at the Spice Route tasting room, Paarl.
