A wine with altitude AND attitude.
35% Malbec, 25% Petit Verdot, 15% Shiraz, 15% Pinotage and 10% Merlot from vineyards on the slopes of Waaihoek Mountains in Breedekloof, South Africa. The wine has 3.1 g/L of residual sugar.
Sample submitted for review. The Silkbush Mountain Vineyards Altitude will be hard to find as it is a new wine to the U.S. market but should be available for $15-$20. Ready to buy? Check your local retailers. Imported by Heritage Link Brands.
From the bottle:
Surrounded by 2000-meter high mountain peaks, the grapes for this wine are grown between 400 and 700 meter elevations. Nurtured on hilly slopes, shale soils and pure mountain water, these grapes are grown beneath rugged mountain cliffs in the midst of wild fynbos and proteas.
14% Alcohol
As we just discussed in our Ask The Expert post a few days ago, there's a good reason you often see the altitude of vineyards called out on wine labels. Today we put that to the test with a wine that not only calls it out, but is actually named Altitude.
The 2014 Silkbush Mountain Vineyards Altitude begins with quite a nice aroma of dark, tart fruit, lots of spice, lots of licorice and mint. It's a very enticing combination of aromas. Taking a sip reveals tons of excellent, spicy, rich, tart fruit that is more red than black. You'll also find good balance and structure with hints of vanilla, licorice, cola and more. Each of the five varietals in this blend contribute nicely to the overall. It ends with more spice and more rich fruit on the savory, long finish that gets even better with some time in the glass. This is definitely not your typical boring, manufactured red blend. I'm a big fan of this one.
Looking for more of the best wines from South Africa? Check out our growing list right here!
Ready to buy the Silkbush Mountain Vineyards Altitude? Check your local retailers.
