Old Road Wine Co. Anemos Chenin Blanc 2017

Old Road Wine Co. is a recently launched stand-alone brand from producer-wholesaler DGB with its own tasting facility on Franschhoek’s main road. Top of the range are three single-vineyard wines, tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Wild thing.

Old Road Wine Co. Anemos Chenin Blanc 2017
Price: R209
From Stellenbosch, Durbanville and Franschhoek grapes. Fermented and matured in mostly older French oak barrels. An exotic and compelling nose showing naartjie, orange, stone fruit, pineapple, honey, spice, some nuttiness plus yeasty complexity. The palate is rich and full with tangy acidity – very flavourful if not that subtle. Alcohol: 13.5%.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Old Road Wine Co. Grand-mère Semillon 2016
Price: R441
Grapes from a 1937 Franschhoek vineyard, 30% fermented spontaneously and maturation taking place in mainly older oak barrels. Lime and lemon plus a pronounced waxy character on the nose while the palate is super-concentrated and thick textured. Already quite advanced and about power rather than finesse – alcohol is 14%.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Old Road Wine Co. 12 Mile Syrah 2015
Price: R219
Matured for 18 months in older barrels. Red and black fruit, spice plus a somewhat unfortunate nutty note. Big and broad with moderate acidity and smooth tannins. Not without flavour but somewhat lackluster. Alcohol: 14%.

Editor’s rating: 89/100.

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