Arcangeli new releases
By Christian Eedes, 4 May 2020
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Arcangeli Wines in Bot River is owned by Sandro Arcangeli who originates from Italy, each wine given an Italian name bar the Feiteiras Verdelho, a nod to the previous Portuguese owners. Krige Visser, one half of Mount Abora Wines, is the winemaker and the wines are inevitably feature minimal intervention – note the old press icon depicted in the bottom left-hand corner of the label along with words the “Vini Autentici” meaning Authentic Wines.
Arcangeli Feiteras Verdelho 2017
Price: R200
Component fermented on skins. Orange, stone fruit, some nuttiness plus some leesy complexity on the nose. Lovely fruit density, punchy acidity and a salty finish – very characterful.
CE’s rating: 93/100.
Arcangeli Vesta Semillon 2017
Price: R150
Component fermented on skins. A subtle nose showing peach, blackcurrant, some waxiness and a little herbal character. The palate is lean with driving acidity and a pithy finish. Unusual but compelling.
CE’s rating: 92/100.
Arcangeli Romulus 2017
Price: R250
From Rawsonville Nebbiolo. Whole-bunch fermentation before maturation in old 500-litre barrels. A faint whiff of play dough before rose, cherry and a hint of spice. The palate is light-bodied and fresh with powdery tannins, the finish gently savoury.
CE’s rating: 90/100.
Arcangeli Syracuse 2017
Price: R150
67% Syrah and 33% Mourvèdre. Whole-bunch fermentation before maturation in old oak. A compelling nose with notes of red and black fruit, fynbos, earth and spice plus that wildness that difficult-to-describe that Mourvèdre brings. Light yet flavourful with lemon-like acidity and fine, gently grippy tannins.
CE’s rating: 91/100.
Arcangeli Pellegrini 2017
Price: R150
58% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Petit Verdot. Whole-bunch fermentation before maturation in old oak. Aromatics of dark fruit, violets, undergrowth and earth. Full-bodied but balanced – dense fruit and very firm tannins make this rustic in the best sense (alcohol is 14.5%). Plenty of grunt but equally just enough freshness.
CE’s rating: 90/100.
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Michael | 20 May 2020
Hi – can you please comment on the Romulus. I am not that familiar with Nebbiolo, but my understanding is that this needs to lie extensively to smooth out before consumption. Is this ready now or will it improve.
Christian Eedes | 20 May 2020
Hi Michael, The heartland of Nebbiolo is of course Barolo in the northwest of Italy where it typically makes for wines both high in acidity and tannins and these are often some of the slowest maturing in the world. No disrespect to the Arcangeli, it is already quite accessible as it made in the lighter style that is so fashionable at the moment. That said, it should easily last another two to five years.
Carl | 14 May 2020
Do they export to Australia? Looks like interesting wines.
Krige Visser | 14 May 2020
Hi Carl, mail me at jkrigevisser@gmail.com.
Simon | 4 May 2020
I was so so worried that I wasn’t going to get a taste descriptor that I could relate to, but fortunately Christian came to the party with play dough. Really reminds me of nothing I can relate to. Well done.
Christian Eedes | 5 May 2020
Hi Simon, You must have had a particularly deprived childhood. 🙂
Kwispedoor | 5 May 2020
Tasting notes are personal and subjective things. Even so, I vividly and fondly remember the smell of play dough. And if one gets play dough on a wine, one gets play dough – even if some kids might have had an abacus or teddy bear instead.
Dion Martin | 4 May 2020
Hi there
Always an interesting offering when Krige is involved. You say that the Feiteras is so named as a nod to the previous Portuguese owners. What are the inspirations behind the other names?
The Romulus is this still a Nebbiolo?
Cheers
Dionysus
Christian Eedes | 4 May 2020
Hi Dionysus, Vesta: In honour of the Roman virgin goddess, who protected and nurtured the families of ancient Rome; Romulus: Suckled by a she-wolf as a baby, he would later establish the great city of Rome, the origin of the Arcangeli family; Syracuse: Legend has it that the grape variety Syrah came into Italy from Syracuse – by the legions of Roman emperor Probus sometime after AD 280; and Pellegrini: New World countries were founded by pilgrims – or Pellegrini in Italian.
The Romulus is indeed from Nebbiolo (tasting note now ammended), grapes from the same vineyard that Du Toitskloof utilises for its version, if I understand correctly.