A.A. Badenhorst new releases

By , 12 September 2024

Kalmoesfontein set against the slopes of the Paardeberg has been home of A.A. Badenhorst Wines since 2008. “We have some 150ha of vineyard planted at different aspects and altitudes bringing tremendous variety to the fruit,” says winemaker Adi. Just about all winemakers insists that they want to make wines representative of place but here the resulting wines seem to have a particular aesthetic integrity and luminosity. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Sout van die Aarde Palomino 2023
Price: R450
From a coastal vineyard that also supplies Sadie’s Skerpioen. The nose shows some flinty reduction but is otherwise shy. The palate is lean and taut as this wine always tends to be, the finish overtly salty. Beguiling in its understatement. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Grensloos Chenin Blanc 2023
Price: R350
Grapes from seven vineyards spread across both Kalmoesfontein  and the neighbouring Jakkalsfotein property, many of which used to be bottled on their own. Some struck-match reduction before pear, peach, citurs, hay and fynbos on the nose while the palate shows great clarity of fruit and fresh acidity, the finish lightly acidity. Layers and layers of flavour as you might expect given the constituent parts. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Kalmoesfontein White 2023
Price: R350
45% Chenin Blanc, 11% Clairette Blanche, 10% Grenache Blanc, 8% Palomino, 8% Roussanne, 8% Viognier, 5% Muscat d’Alexandrie and 5% Verdelho – all grapes picked over three days. Gorgeous aromatics of fllowers, fynobs, pear, peach, citrus and quince. The palate is intense but not weighty with a striking line of acidity and a pithy finish. Poised and detailed. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Ringmuur Cinsault 2023
Price: R350
Grapes from a 0.6ha vineyard planted in 1969. Made using carbonic maceration. Red cherry, rose, fynbos and earth on the nose while the palate is light bodied, but the fruit is pure and the tannins fine, the finish especially long. Intricate and refined. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Ramnasgras Cinsault 2023
Price: R550
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1964. The nose shows red cherry, raspberry, floral perfume and fynbos. The palate is pure, poised and energetic – great clarity of fruit, bright acidity and crunchy tannins. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Raaigras Grenache 2023
Price: R550
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1952. Cherry, raspberry, fynbos and even a touch of mint on the nose. The palate shows concentrated fruit without being heavy or sweet. Zippy acidity lends life and the tannins are fine and tightly packed, the finish ultra-dry.  Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Kalmoesfontein Red 2022
Price: R350
33% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 14% Cinsault, 12% Tinta Barocca, 8% Mourvèdre, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Touriga Nacional. Seductive aromatics of red and black berries, flowers, fynbos, raw meat, earth, pepper and spice. The palate shows excellent focus and drive – pure fruit, fresh acidity and firm but not coarse tannins. No stylistic concessions in terms of how dense it is but there’s intricacy here, too.  Alc: 14%.

CE’s rating: 97/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.

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