The Old Vine Series Kokerboom 2016
By Christian Eedes, 11 August 2017
5
From Olifantsrivier Semillon planted in the 1930s. The hot and dry conditions of 2016 have led to a wine of particular richness and ripeness in the case of this wine (alcohol is 14.5%). On the nose, the wine shows some hay before lime, white peach and green melon. The palate seems even more full and round than usual with a creamy texture undercut by tangy acidity, the finish gently savoury. Approximate retail price: R310 a bottle.
Editor’s rating: 92/100.
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Smirrie | 14 September 2017
I called this wine a collectors item and Tim Atkin calls it World Class.
With an outstanding score of 98 points.
Kevin R | 11 August 2017
As long as its natural, as Eben’s wines are. That’s the beauty of wine.
So over old-school wines (which still feature the same mistakes while missing the best that RSA terrior has to offer).
Smirrie | 11 August 2017
The 2016 is a touch on the geeky side… cloudy , different tasting notes than i am used too. Perhaps a collectors item.
Hennie Taljaard | 11 August 2017
I am asking myself, faced with very hot vintage conditions such as was the case with 2016, do winemakers rein it in or just let the vintage speak? Considering the 2016 Sadie’s I do think the vintage is showing. But is there a limit? At what point does adjustments come into play. What is the limit for wine and who decides that? For some winemakers a PH of 4 might be unacceptable and for others not. The wine school perhaps taught them that it would be a problem if they do not acidify above 3.7. Intrinsically would it be a “wine fault” if you sit for example with a ph of 4 and TA of 4.5? and if that wine drinks well and last for 5 or 10 years would that not be OK? But I really believe that wine should show the vintage because that keeps it true and brings another dimension which connects us with its time and place.
Smirrie | 11 August 2017
Let the vintage show and i believe Eben did.