2012 Lammershoek, Cellar Foot Mourvèdre, Swartland, South Africa
Critics reviews
Neal Martin - 31/10/2013
About this WINE
Lammershoek Wines
Lammeshoek are an iconoclastic South African winery based in Paardeberg. They have 70-hectare of vineyards on granitic, sandy soils that incorporates some very old bush vines as well as more recent plantings. They also have room for olive trees, chickens and cattle. Their winemaking philosophy is low intervention, with no new oak and minimal sulphuring.
Their LAM range is from young vines and is intended as a fruit expressive introduction to the winery. The Cellar Foot range is where their creativity and novel approach is fully expressed.
Swartland
After Stellenbosch, the west coast district of Swartland (25 miles due north of Cape Town, between the towns of Malmesbury and Piketberg) now ranks as the Cape's most exciting wine-producing district.
Settled initially by nomadic Khoikhoi from Namibia, the Dutch brought trade and vines to the region in the 17th century. Viticulture was developed only more recently.This contrasts with an ancient geology which has brought a mix of shale, arenite sandstone and granite soils air-conditioned by the Atlantic Ocean nearby.
Chenin Blanc and Shiraz seem to do best, as exemplified by the wines of Eben Sadie and Mullineux.
Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre, aka Monastrell in Spain, is a common blending partner of Syrah and Grenache (aka Garnacha in Spain). In Australia and California it can also appear under the name Mataro.
Mourvèdre's bastion in France is Bandol, where it reigns supreme in the red blends and yielding a savoury, gamey, herby wine. It also commonly features in Southern Rhône, Languedoc & Rousillon blends.
The grape needs a warm climate to ripen fully. Its stronghold in Spain are the appellations along the south-east Mediterranean(Murcia, Jumilla, Bullas), where it produces rosé, dry red and sweet fortified wines. Monastrell has played a significant part in Spain’s vinous heritage; it nurtures wines that are deep in colour and richly tannic, sometimes overbearing in their intensity and concentration
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Description
The 2012 Cellar Foot Mourvedre has a perfumed bouquet with scents of blackberry, white fennel, broom and Dorset plum that is tight at first, but gradually opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm juicy grip on the entry. There is a sweet core of black fruit here laced with cassis and bilberry while the finish exploits the structure of Mourvedre and maintains admirable focus. Everything here appears to be in its right place. This is another outstanding wine from Lammershoek.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - Issue#209 Oct 2013
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