Intellego Kolbroek Syrah 2017

Jurgen Gouws, the man behind the Intellego label, has a slightly insouciant air about him on an almost permanent basis but don’t be fooled because his wines are always thoughtfully composed, and his best are increasingly a match for anything else out there. Tasting notes and ratings for new releases as follows:

Intellego Chenin Blanc 2018
Price: R195
Entirely from Paardeberg fruit. An appealing nose of potpourri, citrus and peach. The palate is somewhat curious – sweet on entry, savoury on the finish but mid-palate missing. The analysis is extraordinary – alcohol: 12%, residual sugar: 5.9g/l, TA 7.45g/l and pH 2.9 so perhaps time to settle down.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Intellego Elementis Chenin Blanc 2018
Price: R245
14 days skin contact and consistently one of SA’s most compelling examples made in this style. A complex nose of citrus oil, flowers and herbs. The palate is pure, fresh and very savoury – this vintage is delicate, almost ethereal compared to some of its predecessors – alcohol: 11%.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Intellego The Sleeping Co-Pilot Viognier 2018
Price: R245
13 days skin contact. A quite pronounced note of floral perfume (citrus blossom) to go with naartjie on the nose. The palate again shows good fruit concentration, zippy acidity with  some light phenolic grip on the finish – plenty of interest. Alcohol: 11%.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

Intellego Kedungu 2017
Price: R135
66% Syrah, 26% Cinsault and 8% Mourvèdre. A pleasing nose of red fruit, herbs and white pepper. Very light bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins, the finish having a pleasant salty quality. Dead sexy.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Spot on.

Intellego Kolbroek Syrah 2017
Price: R215
This vintage involved semi-carbonic fermentation on at least half the wine. A rather beautiful and irresistible nose of lavender, rose petal, red and black fruit plus pepper. The palate shows good fruit density given an alcohol of just 12%. Lean and racy with a bone-dry finish. Pure, poised and sure to bring joy to fans of the variety.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Intellego Syrah 2017 rated 94/100 on previous review – see here.