Micu Narunsky Wines
Recently I had a tasting with Micu Narunsky, a garagiste producer specializing in Portuguese varietal blend, a rare dry Muscat as well as an experimental Pinot Noir.
All hand made, free run juice only, miminal use of new oak if any, respecting and preserving the fruit, and showcasing site expression.
What I am trying to say by that, is that if you taste the wines of Swartland of origin, there is a minerally thread, that is common, and Micu’s wine, shows a very fine streak of minerals as well as freshness, couple by vibrant and ripe Stellenbosch fruit, adding an instant seductive aromatic appeal.
It was great to taste the new vintages, after discovering it for the first time, in 2008.
To start with, it’s obvious that Micu, have really gone the extra mile in the vineyard, as the effort is starting to pay off very well, based on observation below/, they are wine made with passion, respect of delicate fruit, and best of all they are not overworked.
Lately I have made an observation on lots of new releases, with the average high yield of Cape vineyards (6 – 8+ tons/ hectares), winemakers tends to overworked their wines by trying to extract far too much, what the diluted yields bring…….which result in dead wine in the glass, with tannins extraction that will never softened, unless you are having a bull T bone steak………. But this observation does not apply to the wines below….
2007 Micu Narunsky Tinta Barocca / Touriga Nacional blend 86 – 88 Points
Clear, deep ruby red, with purple rim, bright, perfect colour extraction.
Medium plus concentration and medium viscosity, clean.
Primary forthcoming fruit of ripe mulberries, preserved cherries.
Pronounced earthy character, lending complexity, pure, fresh, with savoury notes of black olives, and Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and dried origanum.
Crisp acidity, delicate rolling tannins, textured and medium bodied.
If I had tasted the wine blind, I would have gone straight to Portugal, more precisely the Douro valley, kind of a Ramos Pinto style, albeit lesser fruit concentration.
Very good oaking, none new, pure expression of fruit,.
This blend of roughly 75 % Tinta Barocca and 25 % Touriga Nacional, comes predominantly from Stellenbosch fruit, off 12 – 15 years old trellis vineyard and the balance is from Swartland. There is a dash, but no percentage reveal, ah ha, winemakers secret, of Souzao, for acidity.
Excellent food wine, tried with paella, Chorizo based dishes, salted cod
Drink now until 2015
2007 Micu Narunsky Lemanja Flagship blend – 87 – 89 Points
Clear deep ruby red, saturated with purple rim, once again perfect colour extraction. High concentration, and medium plus viscosity. Clean.
Pure fruited, cassis, fragrant notes of dry rose petal, earthy hints of lead pencil, charcoal dust.
Very fresh and clean palate, beautiful restraint, will mingle with integrated tannins, tight mid palate, needs food, refreshing acidity, excellent unobtrusive oaking.
Delicacy, and elegance at it’s best, finely crafted.
Recommended with a roasted guinea fowl, root vegetables, brown mushroom and bacon bits, drizzled with it’s own jus.
From winter 2010 until 2017+, if you can’t resist, give it a whole day decanting, and pour back in the bottle prior to dinner.
2008 Micu Narunsky La Complicité 80+ - 82+
This is one of it’s kind in the Cape, a dry Muscat, made in an Alsatian style.
Clear, day bright, pale straw, with slight green tinge, low plus concentration and low plus viscosity.
Clean, young, with notes of lychees, (but not as pungent as a gewürztraminer) dusty white minerals, talc and musk spiciness, with hints of ripe pears, almost kind of ripe Pinot Grigio from the New World. Unwooded.
Drty, delicate, textured and fresh, leesy complexity on mid palate, lingering honeyed aftertaste.
Excellent as an aperitif with chicken or duck liver base, hors d’oeuvres, or simply with some poached green asparagus, prosciutto crudo and light chives dressings
Barrel sample, 2008 Pinot Noir Provisional rating 83+ / 85+ Points
Very interesting, the colour is near perfect, except for the slight brown rim.
"Clear, bright, ruby red with slight brown rim, medium concentration, medium plus viscosity, clean, young, good austerity, with aeration reveals fragrant notes of dark cherries, raspberry, and ripe strawberries, good balance between ripe, and just over ripe fruit, earthy core.
High alcohol, gives slight burning sensation, old wood, well coaxed with delicate fruit, medium plus acidity ,lends nerve and bright freshness.
Low plus tannins, medium lenght, but still early, will gain complexity with time, good mid palate structure and weight.
Upbringing still happening, this wine need another +/- 12 month in barrel, before bottling, will be closer to an 85+ by end 2010, or first quarter 2011.
To be enjoyed until 2014.
Good effort for a debut
Those of you interested in unusual, but highly rewarding individual wines with character and personality as well as food friendlyness, you can contact Micu Narunsky at : nmicu@hotmail.com
