Alinea Viura 2023

Natasha Jacka of Alinea seems set for great things. Her Sauvignon Blanc 2021 was best wine overall in the inaugural FedEx Next Generation Awards last year while her Viura 2023 is also most accomplished.

Viura is a very common grape in northern Spain and, as Macabeo, in the Languedoc and Roussillon although plantings locally are still minute (a total of 5.62ha at the end of 2023).

Jacka obtained her grapes from a Simonsberg-Paarl vineyard, winemaking involving fermentation in old 600-litre barrels before maturation lasting 10 months. The nose has a slightly grassy top note before pear, peach and lime while the palate is well balanced – good fruit concentration, textured but not greasy, the finish lightly savoury and lightly grippy. It’s well balanced and may even be said to possess a certain linearity, the alcohol of 14% unobtrusive. Price: R250 a bottle.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

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