Last night, a tasting of the new releases from Tokara. The Bordeaux-style white Director’s Reserve White was the stand-out wine (surely establishing itself as one of our very best whites) while the reds were surprisingly unconvincing for this usually top-notch cellar.
Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Price: R90
Very herbaceous. Guava and lime upfront and some peppery bite on the finish. Pleasantly lean and savoury.
88
Reserve Collection Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Price: R90
Lime, grapefruit and green melon. Concentrated and nicely thick textured with racy acidity lending balance. Saline quality on the finish.
90
The shizniz.
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2012
Price: R185
74% Sauvignon Blanc, 26% Semillon. Beautiful nose showing jasmine, lime, blackcurrant and subtle oak. Rich and full but wonderfully poised – layers of flavour, lovely integrated acidity and a pithy finish. At least 12 months off being anywhere near ready to drink.
94
Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Syrah 2010
Price: TBC
Quite heady aromas of red and black fruit, dried flowers, white pepper and vanilla. Sleek and powerful – thankfully not over-extracted but a bit lacking in freshness and warm on the finish (abv 15.43%).
88
Pinotage 2011
Price: TBC
Cherries and plums plus vanilla on the nose. Sweet-fruited rich and broad with firm but not aggressive tannins. Rather chunky in general (abv 14.75%).
87
Director’s Reserve Red 2009
Price: R270
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Red and black berries plus a pronounced herbaceous, even minty, quality on the nose. Pure fruited with acidity fresh to the point of angular and firm but fine tannins – the wine carries its oak well. Curiously old-fashioned overall (despite abv of 15%).
89
The two 2012 Reserve Collection Chardonnays will be reviewed as part of the third annual Christian Eedes Chardonnay Report presented in conjunction with Sanlam Private Investments, results to be made public in October.
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