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south african wine, part 15
Warwick Estate

If the visit at Glen Carlou left something to be desired, then Warwick really trumped it: my appointment with Mike Ratcliffe didn’t happen because he’d left the country! This was disappointing, because the schedule had been rejigged to accommodate him. No one was available to see me, so I did the cellar door, which at Warwick is quite a polished operation: you sit at a table and the wines are brought to you, and the staff talk you them. These were quite impressive: solid quality all the way through the range. Didn’t get to try the Vilafonte wines which Mike is also involved with. Maybe next time.

Warwick Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Quite crisp, fresh and perfumed with a nice bell pepper greenness and some sweet tropical fruit notes, too. The palate has nice balance and plenty of fruit. Delightful. Very good/excellent 90/100

Warwick Chardonnay 2004
Full-on nose: rich, spicy and with lots of herb-tinged fruit. The palate is rich with warm tropical fruit and a soft texture. There’s some richness and spice. A fruit-driven Chardonnay with well judged oak. Very good/excellent 90/100

Warwick Pinotage 2004 Old Bush Vines
Very bright, forward berry fruit: vivid and quite intense, with a vibrant sort of personality. Bright, clean, vibrant fruit on the palate. A lighter style of red with nice expression and just a touch of greenness on the finish. Very good+ 89/100

Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2003 Cape Blend
Cabernet, Merlot and Pinotage combine here to good effect. Nice bright red and black fruits nose with a medicinal, savoury twist. The palate shows nicely proportioned, fresh, open fruit with a sappy, spicy edge. Good structure. Very good+ 89/100

Warwick Cabernet Franc 2002
Warwick was the first Cape farm to plant Cabernet Franc in 1981, and have made a varietal wine from it ever since. This shows quite rich, ripe, sweet black fruits with a distinctive leafy, chalky, spicy edge. The palate is lovely with rich, ripe red and black fruits combined with a minerally spiciness. Finishes nicely savoury. A rich, expressive wine. Very good+ 88/100

Warwick Trilogy 2003
Deep dark fruits nose is spicy and full, with some freshness. It’s dense, spicy and quite structured on the palate with good fruit, integrated oak and nice tannins. A firm, dense wine with a big future ahead of it. Very good/excellent 91/100

see also: an earlier (February 2003) visit to Warwick Estate

Wines tasted 12/05
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