Terracura new releases

Former wine importer and distributor Chris Groenewald bought into the Terracura label in 2022 and took on the winemaking as from the 2023 harvest, operating out of a converted warehouse in Parow. The wines are lo-fi in the best way, tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Smiley Fresh NV – V.2
Price: R165
46% Chenin Blanc, 15% Colombar, 9% Clairette Blanche, 9% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Semillon, 6% Grenache and 6% Palomino. 52% of the wine from 2023, 48% from 2022. 10% skin contact.

Potpourri, hay, pear, peach, citrus and a hint of bee’s wax on the nose. Light and fresh with a salty finish. A wine that moves well from entry to finish and has impressive detail. Alc: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Smiley White NV – V.7
Price: R220

70% Chenin Blanc, 10% Semillon, 7.5% Colombar, 5% Clairette Blanche, 4% Palomino and 3.5% Grenache Blanc. 57% of the wine from 2023 and 43% from 2002. 40% skin contact, 6% matured under flor, 3% madierised.

Cut apple, orange, spice and some pleasant nuttiness on the nose while the palate is rich and broad with layers of flavour and well-integrated acidity, some light grip to the finish. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Silwervis Chenin Blanc 2023
Price: R325

From Paardeberg vineyards, 67% from Sky (kept on skins for three days) and 33% from Kweperfontein (on skins for five days). Intense notes of potpourri and fynbos before citrus, peach and apricot plus ginger and other spice. Good fruit integrity, bright acidity and a finish that is lightly grippy in texture, saline in flavour. An “orange wine” but not as stylistically extreme as some. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Spesiale 2023
Price: R250

67% Chenin Blanc and 33% Clairette Blanche, both given skin contact and matured under flor. Green apple, petrol and nuts on the nose while the palate is lean, super-fresh and super-dry. A singular wine that’s not for the uninitiated… Alc: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Smiley Fresh Red NV – V.1
Price: R165
43% Cinsault, 31% Syrah and 26% Carignan. 69% of the wine from 2023, 31% from 2021. The nose shows dark, macerated fruit – initially also notes of violets, herbs and pepper but these fade. Concentrated fruit with moderate acidity and fine tannins – a bit ponderous. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 88/100.

Smiley Red NV – V.7
Price: R220

58% Syrah, 23% Cinsault, 12% Touriga Nacional and 7% Tannat. 65% of the wine from 2023, 35% from 2021). The nose shows red and black berries plus fynbos, pepper and earth – a slight malty note develops with time in glass. The palate has good fruit concentration, lively acidity and nicely grippy tannins. Full of life and nicely balanced. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

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