Trizanne Signature Wines Seascape Range new releases

Trizanne Barnard left the Klein Constantia – Bordeaux big shot joint venture Anwilka to start her own brand in 2008, her first bottling the year after. The focus for her top-end wines is the Cape South Coast, these collectively now known as the Seascape range, the wines all sporting striking ocean-inspired labels. Tasting notes for the new releases as follows:

Elim Blanc Fumé 2023
Price: R340
Made instead of the Reserve Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend as the Sauvignon Blanc in this vintage was deemed good enough to stand on its own. Matured for 10 months in barrel, 20% new. Exotic aromatics of pear, peach, grapefruit and granadilla plus gravel road dustiness and dried herbs while the palate displays sweet, sappy fruit to go with tangy acidity, some piquant bite to the finish. Alc: 12.57%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Sondagskloof White 2023
Price: R445
From Sauvignon Blanc. 50% given skin contact for approximately three weeks before maturation lasting 10 months in new 500-litre French oak barrels, 50% fermented in older barrels. The nose shows elderflower, blackcurrant and orange plus touches of flinty reduction and leesy complexity. Excellent weight and texture, the finish extremely long – all the interest of “orange” wine, all the precision of top-end conventional wine. Alc: 11.78%.

CE’s rating: 97/100.

Benede-Duivenshokrivier Chardonnay 2023
Price: R445
Grapes harvested three weeks earlier than usual and the wine did not go through malolactic fermentation. Matured for 10 months in barrel, 20% new. A top note of orchard blossom before pear and lime, fresh nuts and a brush of vanilla. The palate is light-bodied but not attenuated (alcohol is 12.7% and RS is 4g/l) – well-delineated fruit, fresh acidity and a pithy finish.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Reserve Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Price: R745 per magnum
52% Semillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc. Matured for 10 months in neutral oak. Peach, citrus, green melon, blackcurrant and some waxy character on the nose. The palate shows huge fruit concentration matched by arresting acidity – dense and thick-textured but equally vital and just exceptionally well balanced. With layers of flavour and a long, dry finish, this is drinking superbly well now but it is by no means at its peak. Alc: 13.3%,

CE’s rating: 98/100.

Hemel-En-Aarde Ridge / Overberg Pinot Noir 2023
Price: R445
Grapes from two vineyards directly opposite each other but in different demarcations! Alc: 12.79%. Fully destemmed and matured for 10 months in barrel, 20% new. Red cherry, plum, rose and a hint of fresh herbs on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with lots of fleshy fruit, fresh acidity and tannins that are soft and silky. Clean and well balanced.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Elim Syrah 2023
Price: R340
100% destemmed. Matured for 10 months in barrel, 20% new. Smoky reduction before dark berries, fynbos, a strong note of black pepper and a touch of vanilla on the nose. The palate possesses weightless intensity – great fruit clarity, lemon-like acidity and powdery tannins. Poised and precise. Alc: 12.51%.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Hemel-En-Aarde Ridge Barbera 2023
Price: R445
The nose shows red and black berries, flowers, herbs and spice. The palate is simultaneously dense and taut – concentrated fruit, invigorating acidity and firm but not coarse tannins, an umami-like quality to the finish. Alcohol is 13.89% and TA is 7.2g/l. Crazy cool!

CE’s rating: 96/100.

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