On the Road with the Grape Guy
Boekenhoutskloof Podcast Tie-in
21 Feb 2024- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(September 2023) ... I have tasted wines from this winery before; that write-up can be found here. This is a tie-in piece for the podcast we did with Gottfried Moche, winemaker, which you can listen to here; there you will hear all about the winery, its initiatives and new wines in different sub-appellations. Below is a list of the wines we tried – reviewed and scored.
The Wolftrap 2022 White
This is a new offering exclusive to Canada, yes, there was already a Wolftrap white, but they decided to play with the blend, here it’s 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon. Citrus dominates the nose with its notes of grapefruit and grass - while the palate integrates the two grapes, giving it a round finish, that sports fresh grapefruit and guava. (*** 1/2)
The Chocolate Block 2021 - 20th edition (3349 barrels)
This is a wine that's been on the market countless times before. It's a kitchen sink blend dominated by Syrah (74%) with Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier also in the mix. It's the variety of great flavours and diverse brooding characteristics. (*** 1/2)
Boekenhoutskloof 2020 Syrah
Once again, this is one killer Syrah - I have talked about a past vintage on my YouTube channel ... The fruit is forward with notes of white pepper, cherry, raspberry and mocha. It's juicy, but with a lovely balancing acidity and long finish that has notes of mineral, earthy and black cherry. (**** 1/2)
Boekenhoutskloof 2020 Semillon
From vines planted between 1902 to 1942 ... This wine is fat in the mouth, but with a little spiciness that shows up along the sides of the tongue; there’s also some nice citrus qualities. (*** 1/2+)
Porcelainberg 2020 Syrah
Syrah from an older block of 38-year-old vines, offering up four tons to the hectare, it is then whole bunch pressed, aged and bottled. This is also an older clone of Syrah planted in South Africa, possibly the oldest. It's earthier, dryer and smokier here than the previous Syrah on this page. (*** 1/2)
Cap Maritime 2020 Chardonnay
A new project from the upper Hermel en Aarde Valley (meaning “Heaven on Earth”), it lies some of 3 km from the ocean and is perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay due to the diurnal temperatures. Wild fermented, 60% malalactic and 14 months in oak (60% new). It's a spicy version of Chardonnay with a nice fruit core ... There are some barrel notes and buttery richness, but also nice acidity helps balance with a minerality-chalkiness and hints of vanilla; what I also liked was the materialization of a creamy center. Quite yum. (****)
Cap Maritime 2020 Pinot Noir
This new project for Boekenhoutskloof is a piece of land 3 km from the ocean that boasts 15 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, according to winemaker Gottfried Moche: “It is the perfect place to grow these varieties.” Tasting this wine makes me think he might be right. Spicy with lovely acidity, deep fruit character and some earthy notes (but they do not dominate). There are also notes of cran-black cherry and black currants. Nicest Pinot I've had out of South African in quite some time. (****+)
