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The
wines of The Berrio
Visiting Elim, South Africa, part 4
Website: www.theberrio.co.za
Francis Pratt of The Berrio
It was the success of the Berrio wines
that really helped spread the word about Elim. It started as a
collaboration between two good friends: farmer Francis Pratt and
Bruce Jack of Flagstone, who together made two striking wines for
seven vintages from 2001. These were a Sauvignon Blanc and a
Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2008 Bruce Jack sold Flagstone to
Constellation, and the partnership ended. Francis Pratt has since
made the wines on his own, with some help from Bruce. His marketing
slogan is ‘Praise the wind’, referring to the breezes that
influence viticulture so much here.
THE
WINES
The Berrio Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Elim
Very fresh and focused with crisp fruit and a grassy edge. Citrussy
and mineralic. Love the purity of the fruit. 90/100
The Berrio Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Elim
This was Francis Pratt’s first vintage all on his own. Taut,
fresh, mineral matchstick reduction on the nose. Fresh, focused and
nicely complex. The palate is crisp and taut with lovely mineral
notes and some flinty reduction. Distinctive wine. 91/100
The Berrio The Weathergirl 2009 Elim
70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon. Taut, focused nose is very fresh
with a hint of citrus. Almost transparent. The palate has a salty,
mineral character. Taut and pure with lovely acidity and subtle
citrus notes. It’s almost not about the fruit. Intriguing stuff.
91/100
The Berrio Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Elim
Fresh gravelly nose with lovely bright berry and blacckcurrant
fruit. The palate is really fresh with nice fruit purity and good
structure. Ageing nicely. 90/100
VISITING
ELIM
 The
Elim wine region: an introduction
Zoetendal
Black
Oystercatcher
The
Berrio
Strandveld
Quoin
Rock
Photos
from Elim
Photos
of Fynbos, Elim
See also:
South
Africa revisited (series)
Wines
tasted 10/10
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com
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