Orangerivier Cellars Northern Cape Colombard 85 points

Orangerivier Cellars Northern Cape Colombard 85 points


Clear, bright, pale straw with slight green tinge, medium concentration and medium viscosity, no evidence of gas or sediment.

Clean, medium plus intensity with notes of lime, stone fruit such as white peach, ripe guava, honey and baked cheese cake, sandy minerality, no wood.

Off dry, medium acidity, low plus alcohol, texture mid palate almost oily and creamy due to bottle age, akin to an age Alsatian Pinot Gris, medium length and medium complexity. 12.5 ABV

I was sceptical when I opened the bottle as only then I realise it was a 2008 vintage as for some reason I did not checked whislt buying the wine at Pick & Pay Lonehill (busy making a selection of 2010 whites, hence!), sealed under screw cap, partly explain the retain freshness, but of importance to note Is that although the Northern Cape Geographical Units falls in a summer rainfall area and closer to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg metropolis than Cape Town, and irrespective of their hugely high yields (40 ton per ha, kind of the norm!...) Northern Cape Wine of Origin is one of the highest in natural acidity and lower Ph than many Western Cape white wines, hence explaining their longevity, if only the grape growers mentality could change and opt for lower yields, perhaps some of South Africa’s most interesting wines could come from that side of the world! Who knows, as already the wines shows more of an Old World structure and restraint rather than a fruit bomb with low acid and high alcohol so commonly found.


Served with a pan fried salt and black pepper Gurnard fillet, deglazed with green lemon juice, served with canneloni beans salad, rocket and red peppers