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December 17, 2006
Tasting Note: 2005 Anwilka
Robert Parker opined on this wine on the eBob BBS, reporting: "Fabulous...this is the finest red wine I have ever had from South Africa...This debut release, the 2005, a blend of 37% syrah and the balance cabernet sauvignon, is world class stuff, exceptional wine...." Of course this caused a minor buying frenzy. I ordered from Garagiste and am still waiting for my bottles, but K&L Wine Merchants got a few cases, and I bought a bottle to take to a Christmas party attended primarily by wine collectors.
The wine has a great heritage, being a joint venture between Bruno Prats, former owner of Château Cos-d'Estournel, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, co-proprietor of Château Angélus in Bordeaux, and Lowell Jooste of Klein Constantia Estate. And here is my tasting note:
2005 Anwilka - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch (12/16/2006)
Here is proof of South Africa wine pushing out on the world stage. First, there's the bottle; it's tall, big and heavy. In fact, since the defacto rule is the bigger and heavier the bottle the more money you can charge (c.f. Sine Qua Non), at $36, this wine is a great value for the heavy empty bottle alone. (I intend to use it for pounding poulet paillardes). Second, there is the nose. Another SA wine I've recently tried, the 2003 Boschkloof Syrah, has a old-world nose of brambles and bright acidity; not this wine. The Anwilka has got a killer nose of fruit, fruit, wonderful fruit with a dash of vanilla oak in the background. The color is inky purple black and almost opaque. The palate is lush, pleasingly but not overly ripe, fine acid balance, with good glycerin and persistence in the middle, and a great long finish with smooth well-controlled tannins. It's an international style wine from the beginning to the end. It aims to please and it does. (92 pts.)
Posted by Paul at December 17, 2006 07:29 PM | Wine Tasting