Amazing Anwilka

Anwilka

I’m not one to single out wine tastings as more exceptional than others – as a general rule, I find them all rather exceptional. In this case, however, I was extremely lucky enough to taste a wine of which 99% is sold for export before even reaching the bottle.

*I was under the influence of influenza medication at the time of this tasting – and the wines were still marvellous!

RED:

·         Anwilka (2007): 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Shiraz + Petit Verdot. Caramelized jam, lurking spicy Marzipan, spicy Bovril berries, thick & salty oxtail soup, lurking meringue sweetness, liquorice tea, biltong cheese spread. (*)

·         Anwilka (2008): 10% Merlot added. Roast quince, camphor,  reduced balsamic vinegar on lamb, bursts of lentil curry with caramel at the end, spicy warm milk with liquorice tea. (*)

·         Anwilka (2009): 4 500 bottles produced, 44% Cabernet, 13 months in oak. Blueberry & violets, spekulaas cookies, chocolate Jolly Jammers with blueberry jam, spicy burnt coffee, sparlking spice up my nose. (**)

·         Anwilka (2011): 87% Shiraz, 13% Cab. Caramel fudge with vanilla & cherry essence, lavender shortbread with caramel, tannic, rich, creamy roux with stock, lurking too-sweet hot chocolate at the end, violet. (*)

·         Petit Frere (2010): “Little Brother”. Strawberry & raspberry hot chocolate, cinnamon & nutmeg in hot chocolate mousse, Woolworths chocolate milkshakes. (***)

·         Bella Rossa (2011): Natural sweet wine, only available in Magnum. 50% Cab, 50% Shiraz. Vine dried & made in the Port style, unfortified. Sweet rhubarb, khoki pen, strawberry nail varnish remover, tongue sticks to palate. “Magnum of interesting awesomeness”

Annotations on Anwilka:

·         Farm merged with Klein Constantia

·         Only produce red blends for their flagship & 2^nd label

·         All are blends of Cab Sauv & Shiraz (except 2008)

·         2005 – first vintage

·         Robert Parker described it as “the finest red wine I have ever had from South Africa” (Mr Parker appears to be an international authority on The Wine)

·         2010 – no Anwilka was bottled, all wine was used for Petit Frere

·         The wine used to be sold on premier in Bordeaux where price is negotiated on offer & wine is tasted out of barrel (before bottling)

·         50% new wood on the wines

·         99% is usually exported – aiming to make it more widely available locally

·         “Tannin = that feeling that brushes your taste buds back”

·         “Drink ‘til your beanie falls off”

·         “It tastes like a less tart Youngberry. A nun berry?”

·         Wines are fined with egg whites (whites sink to the bottom of the wine)

·         Fining = protein strips chunky/sharp tannins out of wines to make it smooth