Epitome, Sumaridge Estate, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2012
A very special parcel of Epitome 2012 from the famous Sumaridge vineyards in Walker Bay, South Africa. When I first tasted the 2012 vintage I was literally overcome by how good it was in every respect. Here's an extract from my tasting notes:
‘A magnificent blend of Syrah/Shiraz and Pinotage that is fully mature and drinking beautifully. A wonderful nose of burnt fruit, spices and tobacco. Still fresh and full-bodied with a lasting finish. A wine making triumph... I am in heaven and don’t want to drink anything else this evening.’
My next big surprise? The price. This is a £25+ bottle of wine. For the quality (and pleasure) this is a vinous bargain of the first order.
The Sumaridge vineyards are in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, close to Hermanus that is now considered to be where many of the finest South African wines are made. The proximity to the sea ensures cool winds to balance the heat which the traditional inland wine growing areas lack. This is their ‘showtime’ red wine aged in new oak for eighteen months with over ten years of bottle age with at least a good five years of drinking pleasure ahead of it.
The wine is close in style to a Northern Rhône, with the Pinotage, South Africa’s native varietal giving the wine that extra backbone and density of flavour. A gorgeous wine that is perfect with red meat, game and stews - highly recommended by all of us.
- Esme Johnstone, Co-Founder of FromVineyardsDirect
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Perfectly good wine with dark chocolate and berry overtones, but little complexity
as a consumer who is very partial to southern hemisphere shiraz with some bottle age,i found it with its combination of pinotage very smooth without having to wait cellar time.whilst a full "winter weight" i look forward to it for barbecues
A truly excellent wine at any price level; it exudes warm fruit with a subtlety unusual in New World red wines, and it has a good finish too. I think it is as suited to a summer barbecue as it is as a winter warmer. Snap it up!