Pages

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Ondine and Ormonde Wines

Ondine & Ormonde Wines



2007 Ondine Cabernet Franc 76 Points

Clear, bright, russet red with slight brick rim.
Medium plus concentration, medium viscosity.
Clean, young, green red berries, peppery, earthy, and hints of dry chilli, high pyrazine.
Dry, confirms fruit, high alcohol, high acidity, low plus tannin, low plus complexity.
Showcasing warm climate growing condition.
Now until 2012

2006 Ormonde Vernon Basson 79 – 81 Points

Clear, bright, high concentration, ruby red with russet rim.
Clean, young, complex red berries, molasses, cranberries, tar, with touch of smoky cedar and sandal wood, medium toast, saw wood, earthy.
Dry, confirms fruit, new flavours of caramelised sugar, salty minerality, spicy, medium tannins, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol, medium complexity, juicy, spicy aftertaste.
Now until 2013

2008 Ormonde Sauvignon Blanc 80 Points

Clear, day bright, pale straw, medium concentration, low viscosity.
Clean, young, gooseberries, green kiwi, green apples skin, no wood, hints of white stone minerality add interest.
Dry, confirms nose, low plus acidity, some white pebbles and salt minerality on mid palate, low alcohol, low complexity.
Now until 2012

2008 Ondine Semillon 83 Points

Clear day bright, brilliant, pale straw with slight green tinge, medium concentration, medium viscosity, some gas evident.

Clean, young, grassy, peppery, with greengage note, good varietal definition from a Cape perspective, citrus zest, no wood.

Dry, confirms nose, medium acidity, medium alcohol, pithy and tight, no wood, some sandy minerality, medium complexity, will develop. Fine viticultural and winemaking effort.
Drink now until 2014

Please note that the Ormonde and Ondine range, also comprises of Sauvignon, Chenin, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, untasted, in this review.

Salty minerality thread, through all wines, unusual in the Cape, but very welcoming, could it be a particularity of Darling Wine of Origin?

I’m definitely on the looked out and will confirm in a few years

Sommeliers, wine buyers, wine collectors or anyone having a keen interest in South African wines, can follow my journal in exclusivity, free of charge (for now…) and be the first to know about my latest tasting discovery, join my professional network on www.LinkedIn.com, register and send me an invitation to connect, and you will be on my distribution list.

Cheers

Miguel Chan