Mother Rock new releases

By , 25 January 2018

Comment

1

The 2016s under the Mother Rock label (a collaboration between winemaker Johan “Stompie” Meyer and Ben Henshaw of London wine merchant Indigo and made from Swartland grapes) seem a notch down on the maiden release 2015s, perhaps because of the drought. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Mother Rock White 2016
Approximate retail price: R135

37% Chenin Blanc, 25% Viognier, 19% Semillon, 16% Grenache Blanc, 3% Hárslevelű. Cloudy in appearance. Top notes of flowers and herbs before green and yellow fruit. Very flavourful with lovely zippy acidity. Some will find it transparent and uplifting to drink while others might find it a tiny bit lean.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Mother Rock Holocene 2016

From quite old soils.

Mother Rock Holocene 2016
Approximate retail price: R185
53% Cinsault, 24% Carignan, 23% Mourvèdre. A pretty nose of red and black berries plus subtle notes of fynbos, earth and spice. Light in body and with pure in fruit, a nice fresh acidity which doesn’t sit too much apart and fine tannins. An elegant drop.

Editor’s rating: 92/100.

Mother Rock Grenache 2016
Approximate retail price: R185
Red and black fruit plus hints of herbs and earth. Clean and fresh with some light tannic grip to the finish. Pleasant enough but entirely straightforward.

Editor’s rating: 87/100.

Mother Rock Syrah 2016
Approximate retail price: R185
Dark fruit earth and spice but also notes of oxidation and V/A. Altogether too rustic and not a patch on the excellent 2015 (see here).

Editor’s rating: 82/100.

Comments

1 comment(s)

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    David Clarke | 27 January 2018

    Thanks for your thoughts Christian, always good to read.

    Just a small note that you may have missed, Stompie has put his prices for the 2016 Mother Rock reds down from the 2015 wines as the vintage isn’t as good.

    Not sure there are (m)any others doing that. Just thought it worth mentioning as I think it is laudable in this inflationary climate.

    – David (yes, I distribute these wines in SA)

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