Tesselaarsdal new releases

The Wine Arc is a centre situated on the Agricultural Research Council’s Nietvoorbij campus in Stellenbosch providing a home for black-owned wine brands. Underwritten by the SA Wine Industry Transformation Unit, it offers a tasting room and meeting facilities, the idea being to provide a physical space where black-owned brands can reach consumers.

On a recent visit, a chance to taste the Tesselaarsdal new releases, the label founded in 2015 by long-standing Hamilton Russell Vineyards employee Berene Sauls.

Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay 2021
Price: R300
Grapes from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Two-thirds matured in amphorae and one-third in older oak for six months. The nose shows citrus plus oat meal, toasted almonds and some flinty reduction while the palate displays a good core of fruit, snappy acidity and a pithy finish. Good depth of flavour although still tightly wound at this stage.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Tesselaarsdal Pinot Noir 2020
Price: R556
Grapes from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Matured for nine and a half months in 228-litre barrels, 35% new. Enticing aromatics of red cherry, rose, musk and white pepper while the palate is round, even quite luscious – good fruit weight, moderate acidity and fine tannins.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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