To be honest, South Hill was not a farm I was familiar with prior to my first visit to the tasting room which leads into a beautiful combination of art gallery & restaurant. I was, however, treated to a tasting with the winemaker himself.
WHITE:
- South Hill Sauvignon Blanc (2014): Fresh iced lemon & lime, unripe pears, green Sparkles, light, gentle, bright green asparagus.
- Kevin King Bassey (2014): 63% Semillon oaked in old 300l barrels for 5 - 6 months, 37% Sauvignon Blanc, tank fermented. Toasted seeds & grass, waxy, pondy green-ness, salty, grapefruit, lemony, tasted 6 weeks from bottling
ROSE:
- South Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Rose (2013): Jannie verjaar koeldrank, raspberry Energade concentrate, tart cherries, crumbled feta, very pink.
RED:
- Kevin King Bazza (2013): 100% Pinot Noir. Drunken grapes, strawberries, prunes, soft sherbet, cherry powder, white pepper
- Kevin King Mikah (2013): 50% Syrah, 25% Barbera, 25% Mourvedre. Green peppercorns, braaied lamb chops, marinated oven-roasted tomatoes, soft with tannins at the end, warming, meaty, fennel seeds.
- South Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (2011): Fresh green peppercorns, rich velvet, slight tannins, marshmallowy mouthfeel.
NOTES:
- 80% of crop sold off
- Bassey - Kevin King's wife's nickname
- Bazza - Kevin's dad's nickname
- Micah - Kevin's grandson's name
Avondale is a farm known for it's strong biodynamic princples & practices - while many believe it's all a bit airy-fairy, I believe it makes some damn good wine!
MCC:
- Armilla 2009: 100% Chardonnay, 10% wooded, 24 months on the lees for 1st ferment, 3 years in bottle. Rye toast, lightly salty, strong Salticrax, salted rye crust.(*)
WHITE:
- Anima Chenin Blanc (2012): Latin for soul, 500l French barrels, mostly older. Honeyed oranges, round nose, soft, subtle, orange pith. (**)
- Cyclus (2011): Latin for cycle, 25% Viognier, 25% Chardonnay, 25% Roussanne, 25% Chenin / Semillon. Oily, lurking Cayenne pepper, honeyed melon sweetness, round, haddock-like sweetness, lime pith
ROSE:
- Camissa (2012): Khoisan name for Table Mountain meaning "place of sweet water", refers to the spring water used on the vines, Blanc de Noir-style, 60% Muscat, 40% Mourvedre. Honey melon, pink flowers, pretty little girls in floaty dresses, slightly spicy, salty palate, lingering finish.
RED:
- Samsara (2007): Tibetan for continuous flow of rebirth & reincarnation, 100% Syrah. Musky, smokers' room, leather & cigar, pink & white pepper, soft & flowy with a pepper bite at the end.
- La Luna (2007): 7 years bottle aged, Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Syrah. Crushed velvet, balsamic tannins, blackness, inky, soft, subtle, liquid liquorice, musty & earthy.
NOTES:
- Only 7 wines produced on the farm, the last of which has just been released exclusively
- Armilla: ties back to biodynamics, if the moon can influence the ocean, it should be able to influence anything water-based (people, plants, etc.)
- 1 of the soil preparations involved stirring compost into water for an hour by hand - 1 minute in one direction (in tune with nature), 1 minute the other way (to create chaos)
- "So you spend an hour stirring shit? I know a few very good shit-stirrers I could send your way!"
- Logo: Armilla sphere - first drawing of the Earth as a part of the universe
- Best to swirl wine clockwise
- Tasting took place on a root day according to the lunar calendar phases (root, leaf, fruit or flower) - the phase of the moon impacts the flavour / aroma of wine, accentuating different elements with each phase.
- "If you can castrate a hamster, a duck can lay eggs on the run"
