Here Where Dragons Be

MAN Vintners & Tormentoso

The evil fish wine (a.k.a Tormentoso) has been a favourite of mine from the very beginning. I was all too happy to delve once again into the depths where there be dragons to sample more of their fare.

WHITE:

·         MAN Vintners Padstal Chardonnay (2012): Buttered peaches, honeyed carrots, peaches & honey, smoked silk, apricot, nectarines, apricot White Rock cheese. Ages well (4-6 years). 20% 225l American oak barrels. (*)

·         Tormentoso Old Vine Chenin Blanc (2012): Apricot White Rock cheese, buttered scones & marmalade, rich, silk, cashew cream, apricot marmalade, flapjacks with marmalade, cream & butter, overwhipped cream butter mouthfeel. 1977 vines. (**)

RED:

·         Tormentoso Mourvedre (2010): Pink pepper, peppered candy floss, pink berries, glazed pepper, honeyed gammon, toasted coconut, soft, rich, round. American oak. (**)

·         Tormentoso Bush Vine Pinotage (2010): Toasted coconut marshmallows, honeyed muesli, Hertzog cookies, strawberry Poptarts, marshmallow softness but textured, strawberry baked pudding doused in cream. (*)

·         Tormentoso Syrah/Mourvedre (2010): 13% Mourvedre. Spicy plum pudding, honeyed venison, creamy cake, black forest trifle, comforting, alcohol on a Christmas pudding. (***)

·         Tormentoso Cabernet Sauvignon (2010): French oak. Strawberry sherbet & glitter, dark cherries, creamy & buttery, rich, silky, black cherries & cream, croissants with cream & charcuterie, crème brulee, very rich. (**/)

·         Tormentoso Cabernet Sauvignon (2011): Incredible! Buttery & soft. Cork vs screwcap as per 2010. (***)

Venting about Vines:

·         Cab sauv is the latest ripener – changed to Mourvedre on the farm

·         MAN named after the 3 shareholders’ wives – Marie, Annette, Nicky

·         No tasting room currently (2013)

·         Sea monsters on the labels are inspired by those featured on old explorers’ maps

·         “Here be dragons” on the caps