2012 Waterford Estate, The Jem, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2012 Waterford Estate, The Jem, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Product: 20121135134
 
2012 Waterford Estate, The Jem, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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Description

The 2012 The Jem comprises approximately the same grape varieties as the 2011, the fruit this year picked earlier than the previous year at around 13.5% alcohol (final). It has a tightly wound bouquet with black plum and subtle menthol aromas, although they demand coaxing from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle but insistent grip on the entry, tarry black fruit, a pinch of red peppercorns mixed with bay leaf and a touch of Chinese five-spice that is sprinkled over the structured finish. Tight at the moment, but there is certainly plenty of potential here.
Neal Martin - 28/04/2017

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Wine Advocate93/100
The 2012 The Jem comprises approximately the same grape varieties as the 2011, the fruit this year picked earlier than the previous year at around 13.5% alcohol (final). It has a tightly wound bouquet with black plum and subtle menthol aromas, although they demand coaxing from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle but insistent grip on the entry, tarry black fruit, a pinch of red peppercorns mixed with bay leaf and a touch of Chinese five-spice that is sprinkled over the structured finish. Tight at the moment, but there is certainly plenty of potential here.
Neal Martin - 28/04/2017 Read more

About this WINE

Waterford Estate

Waterford Estate

Waterford Estate was established in 1998 with the intention of producing the very best wines in the country. The 120-hectare wine farm, nestled between the Simonsberg and Heldeberg mountain ranges, is a joint venture between Jeremy Ord and Kevin Arnold. Johannesburg-based Jeremy Ord made a fortune in information technology while Kevin Arnold established a reputation as one of South Africa's leading winemakers during his tenure at Rust en Vrede.

Kevin is now joined by the young and dynamic Mark le Roux (pictured). Mark started at Waterford working as an intern in the vineyards. Now as head winemaker, his involvement with the grapes and understanding of the specific plots on the farm is evident in the fresh, clean wines he is producing. The ripe and wonderfully balanced Chardonnay is much sought-after in South Africa and the Cabernet Sauvignon balances structure and ripeness.

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Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is South Africa’s best-known wine region, producing a wide variety of wines from leading estates, even though it accounts for less than 20 per cent of the country’s total production. Designated wards within the wine region are Jonkershoek Valley, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Devon Valley and Papegaaiberg.

At 17,500 hectares, Stellenbosch remains the Cape's most famous and important fine wine district, thanks to its proximity to Cape Town, to the cooling influences of False Bay, its mountainous (ie Helderberg, Simonsberg), granitic topography and its centres of learning such as Elsenburg Agricultural College. 

It's notable for the refinement of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, especially from the likes of Glenelly EstateKeermont Vineyards Oldenburg Vineyards, Raats Family and Anwilka

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Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.

In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and  Australia.

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