The Elim wine region in South Africa: Black Oystercatcher

The wines of Black Oystercatcher
Visiting Elim, South Africa, part 3

Website: www.blackoystercatcher.co.za

Dirk Human (above) sounds like a character from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but he’s a farmer-turned-winegrower whose family have farmed the Moddervlei farm for many generations. In 1998 he decided to plant vineyards on the most suitable bits of the farm, and in 2003 the first wines were bottled. The winery is named after a rare bird species found in the region, the Black Oystercatcher, and annual production is 30 000 bottles. In 2008 he opened a restaurant on the premises.

THE WINES

Black Oystercatcher Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Elim
From shale soils. Focused, fresh, almost marine nose with grapefruit and citrus notes. The palate is crisp, focused and pure with good acidity and some mineral character. A lovely fresh, pure style with subtle herbal notes. 90/100

Black Oystercatcher White Pearl 2008 Elim
Partially barrel-fermented. Pure, fresh and crisp with taut citrus fruit. The palate is fresh and focused with lively citrus pith character and subtle grassy notes, with a hint of cream. Tightwound now, but may evolve very nicely. 90/100

Black Oystercatcher Blanc Fumé 2009 Elim
A single barrel (600 litres) of Sauvignon Blanc. Aromatic, fresh grapefruit nose is distinctive and subtly herby, with some richer barrel ferment notes in the background. Textured with lovely creamy richness. 91/100

Black Oystercatcher Triton 2007 Elim
A blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Vibrant, youthful and bright with fresh open cherry, berry and blackcurrant fruit. Fresh and sappy with grippy tannins. A ripe, forward wine with nice tannins and a grippy finish. Pure and youthful. 89/100

VISITING ELIM

The Elim wine region: an introduction
Zoetendal
Black Oystercatcher
The Berrio
Strandveld
Quoin Rock
Photos from Elim
Photos of Fynbos, Elim