Moya Meaker new releases

Moya Meaker (Miss South Africa 1959) is the mother of Genevieve Curl, who is married to Canadian wine entrepreneur David Curl. When the Curls acquired their Elgin property, Habibi Farm, they named the resulting wines after Genevieve’s mother as a tribute. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as made by Jean Smit, also of Damascene, as follows:

Pinot Noir 2024
Price: R350
Grapes from five blocks planted in 2010 on Elgin property Habibi where the Damascene cellar is located. Matured for 10 months in 300-litre barrels, 20% new. A touch of flinty reduction before red and black cherry, red apple, and floral perfume. Good fruit definition, bright acidity and super-fine tannins combine to ensure a sappy, smooth textured palate with a little savoury tug on the finish. Alc: 13.09%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Chardonnay 2024
Price: R350
NEW. From blocks planted in 2021 on Habibi. Fermented and matured for 10 months in 1,000-litre foudre. Gorgeous aromatics of pear, lime, lemon, apple, floral perfume, talcum powder and a slight nutty note. The palate is almost ethereal in its delicacy – pure fruit and brisk acidity before a pithy finish. Poised, vivid, taut. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Riesling 2024
Price: R350
Striking aromatics of lime, green apple, nectarine and apricot plus hints of potpourri and spice and a little flinty reduction. The palate is plush but also not short of freshness – rich and smooth textured with well-integrated acidity, the close dry. More serious than this variety often is under local conditions. Alc: 13.12%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

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