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Saturday, 10 May 2008

Wine of the Month Stellenzicht Syrah 2001

I know that summers arriving fast and moving us on us from spring in the Northern hempisphere, but for the Southern hemisphere winter is approaching. Either way, here's a wine of true class for May !
Stellenzicht Syrah 2001, the multi award winning Shiraz produced on the slopes of Helderberg near Somerset West in the Cape, South Africa, has just earned its fourth international gold medal, it has six overall, at the 2008 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Bordeaux, France.
In 2007 the 2001 vintage of this amazing Syrah outclassed all other South African Shiraz producers with a top ten ranking and gold medal at the inaugural international 2007 Syrah du Monde Awards. This wine also won a gold medal at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2005 and a Grand Gold at Mundus Vini.
This Syrah has also done well at South African wine competitions too, with gold medals at Veritas and the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, made from a single vineyard in the unique "Golden Triangle" between Stellenbosch and Somerset west ( an area known for its "Classy" reds and some of the most celebrated wines, and shown on the photos to your right).
This Syrah 2001, made in the classic northern Rhone style by Cellarmaster Guy Webber from a twenty year old vineyard, and matured in French oak is worth every cent and more. I had the pleasure of enjoying it once again on my recent visit to Stellenbosch in the Cape. Stellenzicht produces vintage after vintage that are superlative, and among the best in the world.
OK. We're sold, tell us about the wine!
This full-bodied wine with soft tannins and perfectly balanced acidity calls to mind ripe plums, mocha and chocolate on the nose with spicy hints of cinnamon and cloves. The wine retails at around 16-20 pounds, or less than thirty us dollars, if you can find it. If not, visit the site and order a case to be shipped. This 2001 Syrah is a vintage that can be laid down and has already attracted many wine collectors. For more information call (002721) 880-1103 or visit http://www.stellenzicht.co.za/. also visit the link on South African wines on our links.
Posted by A World of Wine at 11:29
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4 comments:

  1. This is where to leave your wine of the month suggestion. don't forget to subscribe at the top and vote! Use your wine voice!

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  2. I have so enjoyed reading this! and I've subscribed. So few blogs cover new world wines (apart from California that is) so good for you! I wait in anticipation for next months wine too. Can't think of my own wine to suggest now (lost the label I kept!), thanks from the other side of the werld.
    IMO

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  3. I love a good prosecco, and have had some wondeful Barbera. Would love to see any reviews of Piedmontese or Ligurian wines - Tuscan wines are more written about it seems. Does Liguria make any wine? Amy

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  4. Hi, yes, Italian wine, such a huge variety and shades of quality.
    Well to answer your question. Italians love their prosecco or dry sparkling white wine. It is drunk chilled all over Italy at aperitivo time (secco meaning dry) as well us spumante, which is Italy's champagne. The best come from the areas of Franciacorte, Valtellina - Ca' Morei, and the Veneto in general. If you like a dry wine made from the Chardonnay grape, the Franciacorte Extra Brut is good.
    Barbera is widely drunk and can range from the everyday table wine, the caraffe that's normally brought to your table - to really fine Barbera. Piemonte is hard too beat for that. A good Barbera from la Morra Piemonte is Barbera d'Alba Sovrano.
    As to Liguria it is not really known for its wines, this could be because it borders Piemonte and one is never more than 50 kms away from the finest wine region Piemonte. One good Ligurian is Vermentino.

    My personal favorites come from Piemonte, who also give us the lovely light, fruity Moscato for dessert wine, or a summers day. The Dogliani name is affordable and always good.
    Also Sicily with it's robust reds and complex whites and Chardonnay. Then Tuscany which produces the famed super-Tuscans like Sassicia, Tignanello and Solaia from Antinori, and the wonderful wines of Castello Banfi, and just good everyday red wine on the table called "vino a casa" in Italy. I will cover Italy again when I choose a wine of the month.
    Cin Cin!

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The Cape wine region of South Africa

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Do you know your vintages? The good and bad years when buying.

Here on Wine world we take the mystery out of ordering a wine. What vintage to buy and which wine goes best with what. You can order wines right here on the site from the vineyards or suppliers by clicking on the picture links.

Italy vintages
1996 Vintage
This was a good year for wine producers across most of Italy, especially from Tuscany and Piedmonte which experienced good conditions for maturation. Piemonte enjoyed a late hot summer so look out for the 1996 vintage in Piemonte.
1997 Vintage
A fabulous vintage, especially for Tuscan wines and those from Piedmonte. For Tuscany this was once in fifty year vintage. So a Chianti Classico 1997 is worth what you will pay for it. Everywhere else was, ok and 1997 was still a good vintage.
1998 Vintage
A very good year for Piemonte, so choose Barolo, or Barbera from the Piedmont, these are fabulous now and will only improve in the cellar. In 1998 Some Tuscan producers were ok others not so, and avoid the Southern regions of Campagnia and Basilicata on the heel.
1999 Vintage
A mixed year in Italy, with rain for much of the country, resulting in average wines. But, as is often the case, ok wines from Piedmont. The two exceptions were Tuscany and Campania on the southwest coast which had a good growing season leading to excellent vintages.
2000 Vintage
2000 was the year of Barolo, if you can find one, snap it up. - The season was much too hot for much of Italy including Chianti, but the more-northern Piemonte was alright. The wines produced across Piemonte are exceptional, and will lay down well.
2001 Vintage
a successful vintage for Italy's wine makers on the whole, with the best wines coming from Camania & Basilicata . Many Tuscan wines were affected though because of irregular weather conditions. Amarone & the Veneto region experienced dry weather and wines from 2001 are good to excellent.
2002 Vintage
2002 could go down as the 'worst in 50 years'. Italy had heavy rains and Piedmont had hailstorms which wrecked most Barolo vineyards. Rains in Tuscany in September and October which affected the vintage so overall try to avoid this vintage,and if you see it offered cheap you know why.
2003 Vintage
Summer In Europe in 2003 was one of the hottest on record and this caused problems for growers in Tuscany and Piedmont. To be safe try and avoid this vintage in general, however the wines from Montepulciano are worth getting, and Amarone wines are drinking well now, but will get better with a few more years in the cellar.
2004 Vintage
Wines from 2004 from Tuscany and Piedmont and the Veneto should definately be on your list. With good growing conditions throughout. Sun-filled days, followed by cooler nights and a late harvest. Avoid Campania & Basilicata however, which had bad weather in September and October. 2005 Vintage
Europe's wine producers called 2005 one of the best years in recent times. Italy was the exception though - with heavy rains. Tuscany and Piedmont and the deep South were alright, and you can still find good wines in this vintage from the top vineyards.

Upcoming wine events to attend in Tuscany - suggest a wine for next review under comments.

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