Momento new releases

Marelise Niemann has long championed Grenache Noir as being well suited to local growing conditions and her latest set of releases sees the inclusion of three new single site versions, these being from Bot River, Piekenierskloof and Riebeekberg respectively, in addition to her well-established bottling from Paardeberg. Along with a Tinta Barocca, the reds are all from the 2022 vintage whereas her whites are from 2023, these all showing particular energy. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Grenache Blanc 2023
Price: R310
Grapes sourced from five vineyards predominantly on granite spread across the Western Cape. Partial skin contact lasting 48 hours. Pear, citrus, herbs and the merest hint of waxy complexity on the nose. The palate is finely delineated with a thrilling tension about it – super-concentrated fruit and driving acidity before a pithy finish. Alc: 13.59%.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Grenache Gris 2023
Price: R310
Grapes from Voor Paardeberg vineyard planted in 2013 on granite. Seven days of skin contact. A top note of potpourri before lemon, orange and red apple plus again some waxy complexity. Dense fruit matched by punchy acidity before an intensely savoury finish. Full of flavour and entirely seductive.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Chenin Blanc Verdelho 2023
Price: R310
63% Chenin Blanc and 37% Verdelho. Grapes from five different sites on various soil types. Potpourri, citrus, peach, earth and some struck-match reduction on the nose. The palate is powerful yet vital, possessing both breadth and depth. Dense fruit, the finish long and dry.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Paardeberg Grenache Noir 2022
Price: R390
The original. Grapes from a vineyard planted in the early 2000s. 20 – 30% whole-bunch fermentation for all four examples of the variety. Expressive aromatics of red berries, fynbos, earth and white pepper. Concentrated fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins. Pure and focused. Alc: 12.52%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Botrivier Grenache Noir 2022
Price: R520
NEW. Grapes from Anysbos on schist. Strawberry, sour plum, black cherry, playdough, earth and spice on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and nicely balanced with bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish gently savoury. Alc: 12.31%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Piekenierskloof Grenache Noir 2022
Price: R520
NEW. Grapes from  two neighbouring sites, the oldest planted in 1987, on sandstone. Red and black berries, fynbos, forest floor and earth on the nose. Good weight and texture on the palate. Displays the most depth of the four wines in the collection, the tannins smooth and the finish gently savoury. Alc:12.75%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Riebeekberg Grenache Noir 2022
Price: R520
NEW. Grapes from Swartland property Kloovenburg on schist. Red cherry, cranberry, orange and a little reduction on the nose. The palate shows seemingly sweet fruit (although technically dry) to go with bright acidity and soft tannins. The most open and accessible of the collection. Alc: 13.31%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Tinta Barocca 2022
Price: R390
Grapes from the Helderberg plus two sites on the Paardeberg, all over 40 years old. The aromatics are unrestrained as so often is the case with Port varieties – red and black berries, flowers, fynbos, a hint of mint, earth and spice. The palate, meanwhile, shows good depth of fruit, bright acidity and firm tannins. Layers of flavour. Alc: 13.18%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

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