South African Surprise: Cellar

by: Jorge Ferraez

What a great surprise an evening in early March when my good friend Pedro Nosnik invited me to a dinner with the wines of 4G Wine Estate from South Africa.

Little had I known about South African wine, of course the Mulderbosch, Rust en Vrede, Eric de Rothschild and few more familiar names come to mind. I have never been a fan of the Pinotage varietal, but I know that’s not the only one produced in the S.A.

But this time was a complete different approach. I met with Philipp Axt, Founder and CEO of 4G Wine Estate in Cape Town South Africa. A great wine with a fantastic story behind. Found founders with the letter G on their names, micro produced and harvested Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Bordeaux style blend from very specific blocks from a selected area west of Cape Town. A meticulous method with the higher industry standards for barrel aging, fruit selection, vinification and cellaring. The result: the most fantastic wine I have ever tried from South Africa; a clean sharp approach with fruit loaded scents; elegant and silky texture, enough complexity for a first growth and a very unique black cherry-perfumed character. We tried the 2011 and 2014 and also a 2012 Echo to G, which is a second label. This experience reminded me of how impressive wine could be, no matter the region; when you have a good terroir for the Vitis Vinifera and the right hands to transform its product into art.

01

HEITZ CELLAR TRAILSIDE VINEYARD 2003

  • Region: Napa Valley, California

  • Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Price: $85

  • Aromas: Red currant, powdered cocoa

  • Flavors: Plum, Blackberry, pepper

  • Impression: Closed, needs a lot of time to open

  • Structure: Full body, deep and concentrated

  • Drink with: Beef dishes, juicy steaks

  • Why I loved this wine? Complexity

My Rating: 89 pts.

02

VISTALBA CORTE A 2006

  • Region: Mendoza, Argentina

  • Varietal: Malbec based blend

  • Price: $95

  • Aromas: Cherry, ripe berries, violets

  • Flavors: Red currant, red fruit marmalade

  • Impression: Bold, gigantic!

  • Structure: Layered

  • Drink with: Grilled steaks, chorizo

  • Why I loved this wine? Straight bold character

My Rating: 95 pts.

03

DOMAINE ANDRE BONHOMME “VIRE CLESSE” 2017

  • Region: Burgundy

  • Varietal: Chardonnay

  • Price: $43

  • Aromas: Citrus and tropical notes

  • Flavors: Green apple, pineapple and mangoes

  • Impression: Dry, Brisk

  • Structure: Balanced, round

  • Drink with: Delicate fish dishes, smoked salmon

  • Why I loved this wine? Elegant, fresh and crisp

My Rating: 96 pts.

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