More about texture than aromatics.
Last night a look at a new white wine from Chamonix in Franschhoek. A blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon, it spent 11 months in 228-litre French oak barrels, 50% new. Labelled simply as Reserve 2011, cellar door price is R145 a bottle.
There’s a slight vanilla quality on an otherwise shy nose while the palate is medium bodied with a soft, well integrated acidity. It’s a wine of nuance – neither overtly reductive or oxidative. Layers of flavour including lime through yellow apple and peach and a bit of white pepper on the finish. It has presence without being excessively weighty. To be hyper-critical, the oak still sits apart but I feel this will marry in time. It’s been nominated for 5 Stars in Platter’s 2013 but I think it’s just shy of superlative. Score: 17/20.
Good enough is never good enough, Brian Searle-Tripp of O&M RSTM (Ogilvy back in the day) to me as a wannabe copywriter.
“Just shy of superlative” – just about describes Gottfried’s less successful efforts. :-)