A MILESTONE FOR KNAPPSTEIN
2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of South Australian vineyard Knappstein, they usually have bottled two new cuvees to be launched later this 12 months to rejoice the milestone. Affiliate Editor Claire Nesbitt tasted each, together with Knappstein’s different newest releases, with Knappstein senior winemaker Michael Kane in our Hong Kong tasting workplace. The Knappstein Shiraz 1878 Transcendence 2021, from a cooler classic within the Clare Valley, is seductive and velvety, with creamy tannins and wonderful focus at solely 13.5 % alcohol. The Knappstein Riesling 1878 Transcendence 2024, in the meantime, is a pure, cool white exhibiting contemporary citrus, floral and chalk aromas, constructed from a collection of the property’s riesling parcels. It’s restrained and tense and can reward cellaring. Claire additionally favored their Ackland Winery Riesling 2024, which is a persistently mineral, slatey and vibrant bottling that gives each incredible worth and getting older potential.
Standouts from our South Africa tastings this week included the newest releases from Boekenhoutskloof vineyard, primarily based in Franschhoek. South Africa is thought for its previous bush-vine chenin blancs; lesser-known (and fewer in vogue) are its previous semillon bush vines. The Boekenhoutskloof Semillon Franschhoek 2022 is a textural and creamy white utilizing semillon grapes sourced from low-yielding bush vines planted in 1942, 1936 and 1902, and it’s impressively concentrated, filled with stone, citrus and tropical fruit aromas, alongside spice and almond notes.
Boekenhoutskloof additionally owns a hilltop property within the Swartland referred to as Porseleinberg, and its 2022 launch from the property is a really contemporary, savory and even natural expression of syrah that reveals green-olive, rosemary and iron aromas. It’s the lowest-alcohol Porseleinberg that winemaker Callie Louw has ever bottled, however paradoxically is from a very popular classic that noticed excessive warmth stall the event of the grapes, leading to a late harvest. So whilst you may anticipate an even bigger wine, it’s extra elegant and brisker than previous vintages. Try the remainder of the vary from Boekenhoutskloof within the tasting notes beneath, together with their cabernet sauvignons from Stellenbosch and Franshhoek.
– Stuart Pigott, Ryan Montgomery and Claire Nesbitt contributed reporting.
The record of wines beneath is comprised of bottles tasted and rated in the course of the previous week by James Suckling and the opposite tasters at JamesSuckling.com. They embody many newest releases not but obtainable in the marketplace, however which shall be obtainable quickly. Some shall be included in upcoming tasting experiences.
Word: You possibly can type the wines beneath by nation, classic, rating and alphabetically by vineyard identify. You can even seek for particular wines within the search bar.
