Kershaw current releases

Richard Kershaw, originally a chef, switched to winemaking working harvests around the world before settling in South Africa in 1999 where he worked at Mulderbosch and Kanu. He qualified as an MW in 2011 before founding his own label the year after.

Kershaw’s departure point when it comes to winemaking is “the right grape in the right place” and is convinced that cool-climate Elgin has all the intrinsic factors to make world-class wine. The Clonal Selection range sees him combining different parcels of grapes with a view to creating a more complete whole while the Deconstructed range are limited production wines that are an effort to dig deeper into the nuances of both individual site and clone. Tasting notes and ratings for the current releases below (please note that prices quoted apply until 29 February after which there will be an increase of up to 10%):

Clonal Selection
Elgin Chardonnay 2020
Price: R655
From 11 vineyards planted to five different clones. Expressive aromatics of pear, peach, citrus, oatmeal, vanilla and spice. The palate is wonderfully harmonious with pure fruit and lively acidity. Plenty of detail and good length to the finish. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Elgin Pinot Noir 2020
Price: R695
From eight vineyards planted to four different clones. Red and black berries, musk and cured meat on the nose while the palate shows dense fruit, quite tart acidity and grippy tannins, the finish nicely savoury. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Elgin Syrah 2019
Price: R625
From six vineyards planted to three different clones. Red and black berries, cured meat, liquorice and pepper on the nose. The palate is linear, even angular with a savoury finish. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Deconstructed range
Lake District Bokkeveld Shale CY95 Chardonnay 2020
Price: R1 250
Citrus, oatmeal and a hint of spice on the nose. The palate is rich and round, even luscious. Excellent fruit concentration matched by punchy acidity. Full of flavour. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Lake District Bokkeveld Shales CY96 Chardonnay 2020
Price: R1 250
The nose shows pear, lime and lemon plus some struck-match reduction. More linear and tense on the palate – high acidity and a pithy finish. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Kogelberg Ironstone CY548 Chardonnay 2020
Price: R1 250
Elusive and rather hard-to-describe aromatics – earthy, nutty, leesy notes are perceptible. The palate is quite broad and weighty with tangy acidity and a savoury finish. A wine of real substance. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Kogelberg Sandstone CY76 Chardonnay 2020
Price: R1 250
Restrained but rather attractive aromatics including floral perfume, lemon, oatmeal and struck-match reduction. The palate has dense fruit and snappy acidity before a finish that’s long and dry. Wonderfully pure and focused – has a compelling tension about it.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Kogelberg Sandstone PN115 Pinot Noir 2020
Price: R1 300
Cranberry, red cherry and white pepper on the nose. The palate is vivid and balanced with concentrated fruit, lively acidity and fine tannins. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Groenland Bokkeveld Shale SH9c Syrah 2019
Price: R1 075
Black berries, fynbos, undergrowth and pepper on the nose. Medium bodied with fresh acidity and a very dry finish. A particular, rather esoteric take on the variety. Alc: 14%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Groenland Bokkeveld Shale SH22 Syrah 2019
Price: R1 075
Red and black berries, lily and pepper on the nose. The palate is energetic and harmonious  – good fruit expression, bright acidity and fine tannins.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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