Have Another Sip of Nitida

NITIDA

I have not been especially silent about my misgivings around Ye Olde Durbanville region in terms of their wine offering, but I have also found a few gems worth revisiting – such as the Nitida Coronata Integration. In this tasting we revisited this old favourite.

WHITE:

• Sauvignon Blanc (2013): Lees contact. Soapy lime Turkish Delight, green Sparkles, lime peel, growing acid, nutty, drinkable but lurking acid, slightly weighty.

• Semillon (2013): 50% barrel ferment. Salted green peppercorns, capers, softness, velvety Velcro, Thai curry warmth in the throat, shy, salted honey. (*)

• Coronata Integration (2012): Very salted caramel, honey on buttered puff pastry, baklava, jasmine, peach blossom. 6 – 7 years aging potential. (**)

• Riesling (2013): Platter 5 star. Litchis dipped in Vaseline, lurking petroleum, orange & apricot, crisp green apple, Ruby grapefruit, citrus. (*)

RED:

• Calligraphy (2012): Bordeaux Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot. Blueberry Jolly Jammers, violets, blueberry jam, brambles, Spekulaas, decanter wine.

NOTES:

• 140 5 star wines in 2014

• Platter Guide sales are 2^nd only to the Bible in SA

• “Semillon tastes like ass-paragus”

• Off-dry wines – “the ones you eat with sticky pork”

• Calligraphy named after the diaries that were written in calligraphy made from crushed protea bark

• Use an old milk truck partitioned into tanks for ferment

• 1999 – farm’s first Sauv won double gold at Michaelangelo

• 8 workers on the farm

• Workers used to get paid per lug box

• Nitida now pays the workers for the estimated duration of the harvest

• Harvest 4 – 6 tons per day