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Displaying results 10 - 20 of 25

(2013) Spice route was in fact the Swartland pioneer, when Charles Back of Fairview estate in Paarl launched the label in the late 1990s, with a young Eben Sadie as winemaker. This is made from several varieties, but mainly Syrah (36%) and Mourvèdre (26%), a heady 14.5% abv blend, the components aged individually in a mix of American and French oak casks before final assemblage. It has a rich, thick, plum, blackcurrant and spicy nose, little hints of menthol and sweet earth adding complexity. On the palate it delivers a huge flood of sweet, ripe, glossy black fruit, that washes across the tongue before the kick of spice and pepper punches in. With chocolate-rich tannins and a rasp of plum-skin acidity, this is long, robust and satisfying with spices dominating the finish.
(2013) Twelve months ageing in older barrels for this wine from an organic vineyard, with 10% Shiraz added immediately after fermentation. Around 30-40% is whole bunch. Delightfully dry, nutty Grenache nose, very expressive with dry, dark and dried fruits. The palate has real juiciness, the dry tannins add a nice roughening grip with a good, lively character coming through. Nice and light, very drinkable.
(2013) A new release, this blends 40% Shiraz, 30% Carignan, 25% Grenache and Cinsault, aged in old barrels again. Fine, rich and elegantly lifted nose, some cherry and kirsch coming through. A more solid polished wood and cassis note too, nice intensity. More mouth-filling, a dry tannin structure again, and dry but more luscious fruit, and a nice long finish. Delicious again, with plenty of fruit.
(2013) Syrah, Carignan and Grenache spend 11 months in 500 litre casks. The 35-year-old Carignan is grown on limestone. A little touch funky or reduced here, that little niggling note of dankness. Nice black and red fruit combine on the palate. Very dry, lots of juice, lots of freshness.
(2013) >From the two most expressive Syrah vineyards on the farm according to Craig, one planted as bush vines the other on the highest part of the farm with quartz-rich soils. It spends one year in Foudre, then six months in bottle before release. Nice rounded, chocolaty tones on the nose, with a solid black fruit character. Very smooth and juicy with a real squirt of cherry skin juiciness, and a little touch of herby character.
(2013) Quite funky on the nose, 100% whole bunch fermented, foot trodden then very few punch downs for gentle extraction. The 12.5% abv is through early picking and only into older barrels are used to mature the wine for 11 months. It is a little bit reduced, a little bit funky and that combines to slightly masks the fruit. Dry and racy on the palate, cherry skins and fresh dry tannins. Light and more enjoyable on the palate than the nose.
(2013) A blend of 60% Shiraz, 12% Merlot, 11% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 7% Pinotage, each vinified separately and "very few" new barrels are used to age the wine for one year. Deep and plummy fruit, with a rich earthiness, a touch of blue/black intensity coming through. A touch of schisty/coal note. Very nice fruit, plenty of spice and lots of grip and cherry skin fruit, but racy. Perhaps a little hot in the finish.
(2013) This vintage is 57% Shiraz, similar proportions of other grapes but a little more Grenache and less Pinotage. Much racier and fresher on the nose, with a touch of peppery quality and a fresh cherry note. The palate has lovely fruit, but it is a very tight wine, fairly closed and firm, but has a nice structure and a juiciness, and I like the balance again, perhaps because of that lower alcohol.
(2010) A tiny green note here, a little resinous but decent fruit beneath. Big and rich, with a robust, chunky fruit and quite a full, fleshy mouthful with good definition of tannins and acids.
(2010) Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Cinsault. Big, open, smoky and schisty nose with a dry extract quality that is a touch ashy. The palate has fine, juicy fruit, but then it seems a touch extracted - a touch - ashy. Still a really nice wine with great black fruit. I would have liked it a tiny bit less extracted.
Displaying results 10 - 20 of 25