Intellego new releases

The wines of Swartland producer Jurgen Gouws under his Intellego labels are most emphatically not for those looking for power and depth. Instead, he favours leanness and tension and if that’s your thing, then hes one of the best around. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Intellego Chenin Blanc 2020
Price: R210

From Paardeberg vines. Hay, naartjie, peach and cut apple on the nose while the palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and a gently savoury finish. Slightly fleshier than the previous vintage and the better for it – entirely smashable.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Intellego The Story of Harry 2020
Price: R150

74% skin-fermented Chenin Blanc and 26% Chardonnay. Citrus, peach, oatmeal and a hint of potpourri. A cheerful wine with good fruit expression and texture, moderate acidity and a gently savoury finish.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Intellego Elementis 2020
Price: R295

From Chenin Blanc, fermented on the skins for 14 days. Compelling aromatics of orange, stone fruit, flowers, fynbos and spice while the palate is light bodied with great tension – pure with exhilarating acidity and super-saline finish. Some subtle tannic grip lends interest and as with the straight Chenin, this seems that much better realized than 2019.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Intellego Sleeping Co-Pilot 2020
Price: R295

From Viognier, fermented on the skins for 14 days. Subtle aromatics of peach and apricot, floral perfume and spice while the palate shows quite dense fruit for a wine with an alcohol of just 11%, moderate acidity and some mild tannins leaving a dusty sensation on the finish.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

Intellego Pink Moustache 2021
Price: R150

48% Cinsault, 38% Syrah and 19% Mourvèdre, the Cinsault is whole-bunch fermented and then left on the skins for four days to give this wine its pale red colour while the other two components were pressed straight to barrel. Subtle and alluring aromatics of cranberry, raspberry, fynbos and rose geranium while the palate is delicate and intricate – light bodied and yet succulent with bright acidity and a nicely savoury finish, the tannins being fine and powdery. Really charming.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Intellego Halagasha 2021
Price: R210

From Pinotage, vinification involved semi-carbonic maceration and nine days on the skins. Cranberry, red cherry and some earth on the nose while the palate is juicy an fresh with fine tannins. An immensely fun wine but lacks a bit of detail and length.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Intellego Kedungu 2020
Price: R150

Now including 12% Pinotage in addition to Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Semi-carbonic maceration before 10 months maturation in old oak. The nose shows red and black berries, lavender, fynbos, earth and spice while the palate has a pleasant sweet ‘n sour quality – light-bodied with snappy, almost tart acidity and fine tannins, the finish long and super-savoury.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Intellego Kolbroek 2018
Price: R195

From Syrah. Two-thirds of the grapes from Abbotsdale and one-third from Perdeberg. 100% whole-bunch fermentation. Beguiling if slightly wild aromatics of red and black berries, fynbos, olive, a slight meaty note and white pepper while the palate is light yet packed with flavour – super-detailed, super-vibrant and super-long. Lean and nervy and just about irresistible.

CE’s rating: 97/100.

Intellego Syrah 2019
Price: R210

Less brooding and more obviously charming than its counterpart above. Tasted in March, this rated 94/100 – see here.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.

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