Vriesenhof Grenashe / Shiraz / Mourvedre 2016
Winemaker: Nicky Claasens, Vriesenhof
Exceptional blended with an excellent aftertaste
This wine I found on my wine rack and unfortunately don’t remember where I acquired it from. It is made by Vriesenhof and is a red blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre from 2016.
Vriesenhof Vineyards are located on Paradyskloof Road at the lovely foothills of the Stellenbosch Mountains and has been under the same management since cellar master Jan Coetzee bought it in December of 1980. The following year their first wine was produced.
In the words of the Vriesenhof family …
“The winemaker is a humble servant of nature. His role is to give nature the opportunity to produce the best possible wine.”
When he arrived on Vriesenhof, it was planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Pinotage. In 1983, Jan started planting Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Then they kept going for a while, making wines and history and in 2009 he planted Grenache vineyards. Which is the relevant vineyard we are interested in for the wine being enjoyed today.
Tally ho pip pip and on to the wine itself we go:
The bottle is presented with a lovely white label made from a rougher grain of paper with the farm name and cultivar and year at the top. Below is a grainy image of the original Winery/Farmhouse.
The back label of the bottle has a bit more information about the expected flavors and aroma along with a recommended serving temperature and aging period. Also located on the back label is an inspiring little line: “The Philosophy at Vriesenhof cellar is to maintain the equilibrium between the soil, season and man’s skills. Serendipity plays a role too.”
The wine itself is a medium ruby color. Deep ruby from the Shiraz maybe even but more on the delicate side. The tears on the side of the glass forms a bit slower than expect and linger for quite a while afterwards.
As for the aromas and flavors, the following is what I experienced:
When you pour it initially, there is the overpowering smell of the French oak barrel it was aged in. Then as it rests you start diving into the layers and you get an odour of cherries and spices, specifically nutmeg and a hint of freshly ground pepper.
The wine is a medium bodied fruity wine. It has low acidity levels and tastes not too dry but leaves a pleasant and playful aftertaste. Alcohol levels are at 14% and not that noticeable.
The aftertaste lingers for a bit and transforms from the woody spice berries described earlier to a well-rounded deep tasting red blend of exceptional quality. It went down graciously with the butter aged sirlion steak and greek salad I paired it with.
Overall, I would rate this wine 4 barrels as it is definitely above average in aroma, delivery and aftertaste.
This wine will make a great gift for immediate consumption if you can get the 2016 as it has aged well and will bring joy to a beginner or an experienced wine lover.
If you want to buy some and experience this Vriesenhof blended joy for yourself, you can do so at their shop although I see they only have the 2018 in stock. (Honest straight from the heart review and referral, no compensation or comms)