Neethlingshof Malbec 2013

By , 21 October 2015

Comment

7

NNeethlingshof Malbec 2013

Stellenbosch goes Mendoza.

Argentina is Malbec’s modern home and I’ve always wondered why a South African producer would attempt a single-variety version given that we have Pinotage. That said, the 2013 from Neethlingshof in Stellenbosch is something of a guilty pleasure.

It possesses a typical inkiness being dark in colour and super-concentrated on the palate. There are flavours of sweet black fruit and fresh herbs and while the tannins are soft, the wine is not entirely without freshness. Not highbrow but enjoyable even so. Vinotèque price: R80 a bottle.

#WinemagRating: 89/100.

Comments

7 comment(s)

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    Mark | 27 October 2015

    Hi Guys. Please try Black Dog Malbec from Elgin, especially 2009 and 2012 vintage. A game changer for SA malbecs in my opinion.

    Pierre Rabie | 22 October 2015

    I am of the opinion that Malbec in South Africa in general and marketed as a single cultivar has a great future, especially if it is grown with lower yield in cooler areas.

      Christian | 22 October 2015

      Hi Pierre, As a soutie who went to the University of Stellenbosch, forgive me if I don’t get the formulation completely right but I think it goes something like this: “Haal uit en wys.”

        Pierre Rabie | 23 October 2015

        Christian so we share an alma mater! Dis reg maat ek neem jou uitdaging aan. Net jammer Francis Pratt van The Berrio het die halwe hektaar in Elim uitgeploeg. Gee my net so 5 jaar asb! 😉 My hoop is nou op n plaas in die “Overberg Highlands” en my goeie vriend Thys Louw…

      Pieter Schoeman | 5 November 2015

      Lekker Pierre! Sien uit om jou eerste vintage Malbec te proe. Giant Periwinkle het geloop daar by Joz hulle nou die dag.

      Won a case of this wine at a golf day, and I was genuinely & pleasantly surprised by the quality thereof.

    Hennie Taljaard | 21 October 2015

    The following statement makes absolutely no sense at all?: “Argentina is Malbec’s modern home and I’ve always wondered why a South African producer would attempt a single-variety version given that we have Pinotage.” So you think Pinotage is the same as Malbec?

      Christian | 21 October 2015

      Hi Hennie, What I mean is that Malbec has emerged as the jewel in the crown of the Argentinian wine industry while Pinotage has long been touted as such for South Africa. No more and no less. I’m not suggesting that SA producers should not grow Malbec at all but my instinct is it will work better in blends than as a single variety wine, both intrinscially and in marketing terms.

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