redetc

2013  Swartland

A.A. Badenhorst is the result of one family’s long-term love affair with wine. The estate is owned by cousins Adi and Hein Badenhorst - their grandfather was the farm manager of Groot Constantia for 46 years and their fathers grew up on the estate. A graduate of Elsenburg College in South Africa, Adi moved overseas to work harvests at Chateau Angelus, Alain Graillot and Wither Hills in New Zealand. He returned to South Africa and worked at Simonsig, Steenberg and Groote Post before his appointment as winemaker for Rustenberg, the highly regarded estate in Stellenbosch. The Swartland appellation of South Africa has become ground central for a small, but influential group of talented young winemakers who are establishing new boundaries for South African wines. A.A. Badenhorst is located in the Siebritskloof area of the Paardeberg mountain range in Swartland. In 2008, after working with Rustenberg for nine years, Hein and Adi bought a dilapidated 148 acre farm called Kalmoesfontein for its 62 acres of old bush vines. Their Cinsault (Cape Hermitage) and Grenache vines are some of the oldest in the country - the average age is 45 years old and 58 years respectively - and their Chenin Blanc is on average 40 years old. The vineyards are dry-farmed and biodynamic methods are practiced throughout the farm. The vineyards are particularly noteworthy for their exposition - instead of facing one direction; the parcels were planted on east, north and south facing slopes. The soils are composed of low-bearing Paardeberg, Lammershoek or Lemoenfontein granite. While Adi and Hein have modernized the cellar and the 1930’s farm house, Adi’s winemaking methods are traditional. All the wines begin with whole bunches. The white grapes are transferred directly into old casks or concrete tanks for fermentation and aging. The red grapes are fermented in concrete tanks or wood casks. Minimal sulfur is added before and after fermentation, otherwise, no other stabilizers or chemicals of any kind are used. Both A.A. Badenhorst estate wines are made in the same manner. The grapes were sorted in the vineyard and placed in refrigerated containers to rest overnight. The whole bunches were fermented naturally in concrete or wood tanks - the grapes weren’t mechanically crushed, but trodden by foot and minimal sulfur was added. Once fermentation began, the must was punched down twice per day and then left on its skins for six months before pressing. The wine was pressed into 4000L casks and aged for 16 months, during which time the wine was topped regularly but not racked until the final blends are complete.

2019  

2015  Terrasses du Larzac Les Gravettes

Terrasses du Larzac Les Gravettes - Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache Red wine for laying down, spring or summer 55% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 15% Syrah 15 months of aging in demi-muids, barrels and concrete eggs. FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS Duck à l'orange, lamb tagine, creamy cheeses, strawberry panacotta

2018  

Certified Organic & Biodynamic 25-30 year old vines of Cabernet Sauvignon vines, gown on subsoils of Gneiss and Orthogneiss. Aged in stainless steel, bottled at the end of Spring. 5000 bottles produced.

2021  [Thomas Pico] Vallee de Coigny

Les Pinots Blacks is a collaboration between four friends: Chablis restauranteur Fabien Espana (previously of Au Fil du Zinc), and three renowned winemakers: Thomas Pico of Domaine Pattes Loup in Chablis, Damien Delecheneau of Domaine de La Grange Tiphaine in the Loire, and Bruno Verret of Domaine Verret in Irancy. The project was born from a common dream to vinify Pinot Noir together, since neither Thomas Pico nor Damien Delecheneau farm this grape variety on their respective properties. With one hectare of Pinot Noir farmed by Bruno Verret, they give deserved attention to lesser-known village of Irancy. This dynamic foursome is producing compelling wines from pocket-sized vineyards.

2017  Reserva

This mineral delight bursting with grapefruit and jasmine notes takes the 100% Alvarinho up a notch. Its unusual longevity in the bottle makes this wine one of the international references in the world of whites.

2021  

Organically farmed, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah, 3,750 cases ---- "On the eye, the colour is intense, showing lovely deep carmine red with purple hints. On the nose, it is powerful and beautifully elegant, marked by very ripe red and black fruits, against a background of white pepper and liquorice spice, very characteristic of Trévallon. The palate is smooth and ends on a long, lovely finish showing very ripe and refined tannins of very high quality. The balance of freshness, tannins and richness suggests this great wine will keep for at least twenty years." - Domaine de Trevallon