Although this wine is produced in the 100-ton L’Huguenot cellar on the Val de Vie Estate, the grapes are sourced from various areas in the Western Cape. It’s a 50/50 blend of two Rhône varieties – shiraz (from Paarl and Elim) and grenache (from Botrivier). Both these cultivars do well in the Western Cape, with grenache gaining in popularity as a single-cultivar wine in South Africa.
The youth of the wine is still evident in the colour as the wine shows off with brightness and an intense purple colour. A good start, as grenache is sometimes prone to displaying early signs of ageing. The nose is outspokenly fruity, with red fruit flavours such as raspberry and cherry – supplemented by spicy aromas and a hint of vanilla.
The wine is full bodied without being flabby, the red fruit is very evident and it ends with a lingering white pepper aftertaste. The tannin structure provides sufficient support without being overwhelming. This a well-made wine – its elegance would allow for immediate consumption but it’ll also drink very well for the next five years.