Maanschijn new releases

Paul Hoogwerf of Maanschijn describes the label’s winemaking approach as “old school” in the sense of being “more about place than variety”.  He and Doug Mylrea started making their own wine in 2016, and today operate out of a small cellar on the Klein River lagoon between Hermanus and Stanford, grapes sourced from across Walker Bay – the bottlings grow ever more sophisticated but the wines retain a sense of a project just begun rather than possessing a definitive identity.

Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Herbarium White 2023
Price: R275
40% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Semillon, 21% Chenin Blanc and 17% Chardonnay. Lime, nectarine, peach, hay and a hint of leesy complexity on the nose. Good fruit concentration, tangy acidity and some peppery bite to the finish. Well-balanced with nice palate weight, plenty of verve and a dry finish. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Herbarium Red 2023
Price: R275
45% Pinotage, 27% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre and 10% Cabernet Franc (the first time that this variety appears in the blend). 20% whole-bunch fermentation. Subtle notes of red cherry, plum, rose, fynbos, earth and spice. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and very fine tannins, the finish dry. A wine with good purity and focus with a certain coolness about – alcohol Is 13.5%. Intriguing in terms of flavour profile and structure.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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