| With the mercury showing no signs of retreating from its relentless upward climb, the New Delhi-based wine importer, Sovereign Impex, has released the Wildekrans Chenin Blanc 2005 and Sauvignon Blanc 2005 to usher in the summer. After entering the market with Valdivieso's Chilean offerings, including Caballo Loco No. 7, Sovereign Impex is seriously and steadily diversifying its portfolio with Italian (Lungarotti and Moletto) and South African labels.
Wildekrans is a small family-run boutique winery situated near the southern tip of Africa. The cool Atlantic sea winds and the lean soils allow the grapes to reach optimal ripeness and impart the characteristic cool climate aromatic profile that the Wildekrans wines are renowned for. The Wildekrans wines have already found a big supporter in Bill Marchetti, Corporate Executive Chef, ITC Hotels. The grapes for the Chenin Blanc 2005 are selected from low-yielding, 26-year-old vines and are harvested early in the morning before sunrise, says the winery's website. "Lightly oaked for three months, this wine is long and lingering on the palate, with aromas of peaches, apricots and pineapples. It is an excellent example of a cool climate Chenin Blanc," it adds. Sovereign Impex has priced this wine at Rs 400++ (Duty Free) and Rs 750++ (Duty Paid).
About the Sauvignon Blanc 2005, the website confirms that the grapes have been been selected from low-yielding vineyards. "The wine has delicate aromas of gooseberries, asparagus, pineapple and granadilla as well as crisp, fresh, vibrant fruit flavours," the note adds. Sovereign Impex has priced the wine at Rs 425++ (Duty Free) and Rs 850++ (Duty Paid).
The other Wildekrans wines in the Sovereign Impex portfolio are:
Pinotage Barrel Selection 2003
This Pinotage has a pronounced wood essence, and a coffee and ripe fruity, youngberry nose that enhances the new oak barrel flavours. The colour has a deep, dark purple centre. This wine has huge intensity, is very complex, and has velvet soft textures with a long finish on the palate. "Only wines that meet with our standards of excellence are used in the final blend for our Barrel Selection," assures the wine-maker.
Warrant 2001
Deep, dark purple with an opaque mountain pool centre. Complex aroma from a combination of balanced use of new oak and ripe fruit, layers of blackberry and mulberry, cassis and spice. The wine has a long follow through with intense red berry flavours, layered and complex. The blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (40% ), Merlot (40%) and Cabernet Franc (20%).
Cabernet Franc Merlot 2003
This wine is made in a lighter style that is becoming of Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet red, vanilla and blackcurrant, intense raspberries and sweet berries interlaced with coffee aromas. Rich and full, well balanced, easy to drink with a long lingering finish. The Merlot adds complexity and some amount of interest to the palate.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Selected from low-yielding vineyards, these grapes are picked with ripe raspberry and blackcurrant fruit flavours. The wine is well structured and complex from careful ageing in French barriques. It is a fine example of a cool climate Cabernet ready to be drunk now, or it can be cellared for another five years.
Chardonnay 2003
The cool climate provides complex fruit exuding lime and citrus aromas with a crisp lingering finish. We are very fortunate to get this wine because it is produced in extremely small quantities -- just 300 nine-litre cases in 2003. |
