Angela Reddin introduces Wim Truter, KWV's chief winemaker
Yesterday the Circle of Wine Writers and the Association of Wine Educators held a joint tasting of the KWV Mentor wines from Petit Verdot, Grenache Blanc and a final sweet late harvest wine from Sauvignon Blanc.
Wim explained that Petit Verdot is very well adapted to South Africa's climate – "a perfect fit" as it copes well with heat and it ripens full every year, unlike in Bordeaux where the plantings of Petit Verdot are very substantially less than they used to be. It does have the inconvenience that its branches are fragile.
Wim is keen to avoid having very high degrees of alcohol. In part because of the general move to avoid high alcohol wines but also because he feels that by the time you get to 15% and above you lose the differences between grape varieties. A Cabernet Sauvignon at 15% and above has similar flavours to a Malbec, Merlot or Syrah, for instance, with the same level of alcohol.
He talked about using canopy management to favour the development of phenolic ripeness and picking before sugar levels had gone too high.
We started the tasting with the 2016 Classic Collection Petit Verdot (£7.55) designed for immediate drinking with forward fruit – attractive with light to mid-texture. Slight leafiness on the nose. We then a series of The Mentors Petit Verdot – the 2016 (a barrel sample), 2015 (£14.95), 2014, 2012 and the 2011. I poarticulalry loked the balance and delicacy of the black fruited 2014 and the leaner 2012 with good balancing acidity.
We then moved onto Grenache Blanc, which has a shortish history in Southb Africa but which works well in dry areas like Wellington and Paarl. However, Grenache Blanc has a very thin skin and is extremely prone to rot. As with the Petit Verdot we started with the Classic Collection – the attractively fresh, floral and citric 2016 (£7.55). The four The Mentors Grencache Blancs – 2017 (tank sample), 2015 (£14.95), 2014 and 2011) that followed had more concentration and complexity.They were surprisingly Riesling like – indeed in a bland tasting it is very likely that these wines' petrol/kerosene aromas and bright acidity would lead one to conclude that these were Rieslings.
We finished the tasting with lovely 2012 The Mentors Late Harvest – 100% Sauvignon Blanc with some 220 grams of residual sugar – with lovely apricot and citric fruit including some tangerine and orange peel notes with a fine long finish.
Wim explained that Petit Verdot is very well adapted to South Africa's climate – "a perfect fit" as it copes well with heat and it ripens full every year, unlike in Bordeaux where the plantings of Petit Verdot are very substantially less than they used to be. It does have the inconvenience that its branches are fragile.
Wim is keen to avoid having very high degrees of alcohol. In part because of the general move to avoid high alcohol wines but also because he feels that by the time you get to 15% and above you lose the differences between grape varieties. A Cabernet Sauvignon at 15% and above has similar flavours to a Malbec, Merlot or Syrah, for instance, with the same level of alcohol.
He talked about using canopy management to favour the development of phenolic ripeness and picking before sugar levels had gone too high.
We started the tasting with the 2016 Classic Collection Petit Verdot (£7.55) designed for immediate drinking with forward fruit – attractive with light to mid-texture. Slight leafiness on the nose. We then a series of The Mentors Petit Verdot – the 2016 (a barrel sample), 2015 (£14.95), 2014, 2012 and the 2011. I poarticulalry loked the balance and delicacy of the black fruited 2014 and the leaner 2012 with good balancing acidity.
We then moved onto Grenache Blanc, which has a shortish history in Southb Africa but which works well in dry areas like Wellington and Paarl. However, Grenache Blanc has a very thin skin and is extremely prone to rot. As with the Petit Verdot we started with the Classic Collection – the attractively fresh, floral and citric 2016 (£7.55). The four The Mentors Grencache Blancs – 2017 (tank sample), 2015 (£14.95), 2014 and 2011) that followed had more concentration and complexity.They were surprisingly Riesling like – indeed in a bland tasting it is very likely that these wines' petrol/kerosene aromas and bright acidity would lead one to conclude that these were Rieslings.
We finished the tasting with lovely 2012 The Mentors Late Harvest – 100% Sauvignon Blanc with some 220 grams of residual sugar – with lovely apricot and citric fruit including some tangerine and orange peel notes with a fine long finish.
Angela noting
Cherry Jenkins reflects
Colin Hampden-White, chair of the CWW, searches
for the secret of Petit-Verdot
... followed by the secret of Grenache Blanc
Tasters
(above and below)
In judgment
Gilbert Winfield
2012 Noble Late Harvest
– "sweet wines are some of South Africa's finest" Wim.
