Spice Route Obscura range

Dark art.

Tim James wrote recently about the new Obscura range from Spice Route, the wines made in large terracotta vessels known as qvevri imported from Georgia, spurring me to undertake my own review. The whites, in particular, are certainly not what anyone would call “everyday drinking” but they do have plenty of curiosity factor.

Spice Route Obscura Darling Semillon 2019
Price: R225
Pale amber with a slight pink tinge in colour. Pronounced notes of dried grass and herbs to go with lime, white peach, quince some earthiness on the nose. The palate has good fruit concentration and freshness, the finish intensely savoury and lightly grippy in texture.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Spice Route Obscura White 2019
Price: R200
From Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Semillon. Amber with an orange tinge in colour. Orange, stone fruit, cut apple, ginger and spice on the nose while the palate is rich and round, relatively mellow with a nutty finish.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Spice Route Obscura Red 2019
Price: R275
From Syrah and Grenache. An attractive nose with lifted notes of red and black fruit, a hint of rose, fynbos and spice. The palate is nicely understated being medium-bodied with fresh acidity and very fine, quite soft tannins. The least particular of the three.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

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