WOSA, Wines of South Africa, organized again a wine show with producers from South Africa in Stockholm. Twenty-five importers / agents were present with more than double the number of producers. I had to limit myself to a few producers that particularly interested me, which does not mean that the others were less interesting.
Generally, one can say that the alcohol levels here, as in other parts of the world, have been pushed up to higher levels than before, often up to 14.5% for the red wines. A little high for those who like tighter wines. It is also clear that the larger producers deliver wines of reliable quality in relation to their prices. They also have broad ranges of wines at various price levels.
Some producers and wines that caught my attention:
Kanonkop
I was guided gently through Kanonkops range by Helene Hjort from Nigab, the importer. She also gave me the opportunity to taste Radio Lazarus 2012, an interesting wine from a separate vineyard in Alheit Vineyards, made from Chenin Blanc. The wine was definitely one of the best white wines I tasted during the evening, but its price tag was also among the bigger. Nigab had only been allocated nine bottles of it for all of Sweden…
Kanonkop Kadette 2013 Stellenbosch
~11 euro (all price estimates based on Swedish retail prices)
A “second wine” whose grape composition may vary from year to year. Grapes: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc.
Fruity with hints of spice and dark fruit balanced with relatively low acidity and tannin.
Kanonkop Pinotage 2012 Stellenbosch
~25 euro
Spicy, full-bodied wine with some tannins and good acidity. Distinct barrel character and hints of dark berries.
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Stellenbosch
~25 euro
From old vines, average age 20 years, which has given a wine with plenty of flavour with notes of black currant and hints of coffee and oak. Aged 50 % in new barrels for 23 months.
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2011
~29 euro
A well- balanced wine with black currant character and some spice.
Grapes: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc.
From old vines, average age 25 years, aged 24 months in new oak barrels.
The last two wines had many similarities and were the best ones from Kanonkop.
Eikendal
Michael Mårdstam, as the representative of the Wicked Wine, presented Eikendal’s wines. Eikendal is situated on the border between Stellenbosch and Helderberg. I was not previously familiar with Eikendal’s wines and I thought they were good, I appreciated especially their Classique 2009, a so-called Bordeaux blend (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc). I tried both 2005 and 2009. The blend is different in different years.
Eikendal Janina Chardonnay 2012
~15 euro
An un-oaked chardonnay that has been sur lie (on the lees) for 4 months before the wine is clarified and bottled. A wine that can be compared with similar wines from France, for example, Burgundies.
Austere, fresh with a distinct mineral character and hints of citrus. Definitely worth tasting.
Eikendal Merlot 2007
~18 euro
Dark berries, with some smoky aroma and black currant tones. Mature taste with toasted oak character, balanced with soft tannins and rounded acidity. If you want to buy a mature and delicious wine, hurry.
Eikendal Classique 2009
~26 euro
Grapes: 52% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc
Notes of black currants, violets, coffee and tobacco, as well as spices and oak. No doubt excellent with flavourful meat dishes.
My favourite red wine this evening.
And some more
Other wines that fell to my taste:
Oldenburg Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
~22 euro
Flavours of black currant, tobacco and cedar.
Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
~20 euro
Black currants, toasted oak. Good structure and balance.
2009 Springfield Estate Methode Ancienne Cabernet Sauvignon
~40 euro
Perhaps together with the Eikendal Classique 2009 the best wine I tasted, if you like soft wines.
Lennart Stengård writes för BKWine Magazine on wine tastings and wine events in Sweden.
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South Africa today is a wine country with an amazing selection of quality wines. The best way to discover the breadth and depth of what South Africa can offer is of course to come on a wine tour to South Africa – with BKWine. Then you will meet some of the best winemakers and taste the wines. See for instance the video below with managing director and winemaker Philip Costandius at Oldenburg talking about his cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.
Travel to the world’s wine regions with the expert on wine and the specialists in wine tours.
Better wine tours. BKWine’s wine tours.
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Some more on Oldenburg Vineyards in Stellenbosch
