Brookdale Sixteen Field Blend 2021
By Christian Eedes, 13 April 2022
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The Brookdale story so far: UK businessman Tim Rudd acquires the Klein Drakenstein property in 2016 and appoints viticulturist Jaco Engelbrecht and winemaker Duncan Savage as consultants, both highly respected in their fields. The farm is re-planted except for some 1985 blocks of Chenin Blanc – and a wine of strong personality is made from these plantings starting with the 2017 vintage.
Meanwhile, a 2ha field blend of sixteen different white varieties is established – interplanted as bushvines – in 2018 and Kiara Scott, CWG Protégé, starts as full-time winemaker in 2019.
The 2021 vintage of Sixteen Field Blend is the maiden release from this vineyard, total production being two 500-litre barrels (production in 2022 increased to seven barrels).
What are the 16 varieties? Team Brookdale are coy and, unsurprisingly, the wine shows little overt varietal character, one way or the other. The nose is complex and subtle with elusive top notes of floral perfume, hay and fynbos before pear and peach and then earth, spice and some nuttiness. The palate is medium bodied (despite an alcohol of 14%), the acidity moderate but not insufficient, the finish being grippy and dry but not excessively so. Without being overly forceful, it still instantly captures your attention. Price: R310 a bottle.
CE’s rating: 93/100.
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Colin | 14 April 2022
The first time in months that you actually give worthwhile information when you review a wine. Thank you for making a bit of effort to give background and not just regurgitate a tasting note and score.
Jan Kemp | 15 April 2022
Because Savage is involved, Eedes will always do that bit extra to promote the wine.