CAPE OF GOOD HOPE SNEEUWKRANS PINOT NOIR 2020

Complex bouquet of fruitcake, cedar, cocoa and a perfumed whiff of dried lavender. Broad, fleshy and succulent with all of that the nose promises being delivered on the palate. Spice sprinkled cedar with rich dark fruitcake flavour. Wonderfully soft, rounded and silky palate that shows cohesion and refinement. Impressive density and concentration that doesn’t overwhelm. Nor does the oak used in the maturation of this impressive blend. Plush, comfortable and eminently rewarding with a lingering dry tail.

Seductive perfume of stone fruit, quince, spice and chamomile with the vaguest suggestion of lemon zest or oil. The palate is wonderfully rich and immediately engaging with its ripe, bold fruits: nectarine, sun-dried apricot and mango, a honeyed nuance too. There are creamy honeyed notes in perfect harmony with both the zesty vivacity and perkiness as well as the leesy, oak sheen.

Nectarine, quince and citrus notes mingle on the nose, underpinned by a subtle chalk or hot stone aroma. Harmony and balance are the overriding characteristics of this wine in the mouth. Rich and rewarding, the vibrant fruit – apricot, bright nectarine and poached quince – are subtly framed by creamy oak. The integration of fruit and oak is seamless and both are livened by the fresh tang of acidity. The integration of fruit and oak is seamless and both are livened by the fresh tang of acidity.

Gentle appeal of lemon cream, butterscotch, chamomile and oatmeal with a light floral nuance on the nose. Citrus vivacity – lime and lemon – is immediately apparent in the mouth. The wine morphs effortlessly and seamlessly into a rich and creamy macadamia-toned multi-layered mouthful. The vivid acid is beautifully juxtaposed with the integrated oak which, in turn, doesn’t dominate the gently ripe fruit.