On the 21st of May, Reynie Oosthuizen the winemaker of Kleinood (Tamboerskloof) came to present his wines to us. Our first time to taste Kleinood and to meet Reynie, what a fantastic experience on both counts. To say that Reynie is a presenter extraordinaire is an understatement. After a few questions from the floor, Reynie’s presentation became a viticulture and viniculture experience of note! There were a large amount of questions from the tasters on both subjects, which were answered with heaps of wonderful information in return, which greatly pleased all those present. Reynie also shared many of his wine
experiences in France with us. It is great to hear of wine places that many of us have never been to, and to hear of what their terrior, as well as wines taste like. The following is the tasting, the comments of the tasters and the average scores.
1. Tamboerskloof Katharien Syrah Rosé 2023
Colour- light pink to onion skin. Nose- dusty, earthy, red cherry, raspberry, citrus. Palate- crisp acidity, soft red berry and cherry, sour cherry lingering to the finish, strawberry and raspberry. Score- 16.27.
2. Tamboerskloof Viognier 2023
Colour- light green. Nose- floral with honeysuckle, citrus, spice, apricot. Palate- crisp acidity, spice, pears, peach, apricot, chalky, lively minerality, floral, peach, creamy after palate, spices on the finish.
Score- 16.77.
3. Kleinood “Inkommer” Grenache Blanc 2022
Colour- light green. Nose- spice, citrus with lemons, gooseberry and floral. Palate- crisp acidity, vanilla, butterscotch, apples, honey, pear, stone fruits, apricots, apple finish.
Score- 16.39.
4. Tamboerskloof “de Herder” Red Blend 2022 (60% Shiraz, 29% Cinsault, 11% Mourvèdre) Colour- inky purple red, with no gradation to a clear rim. Nose- spice, smoke, fynbos, black currant, black cherry. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, toffee, chocolate, mint, black currant, bramble berry, mulberry, with a dried fruit finish.
Score- 16.62.
5. Tamboerskloof Syrah 2019 (11% Viognier, 3% Mourvèdre)
Colour- inky dark red, with no gradation to a clear rim. Nose- tobacco, fynbos, spice, black cherry and berries, toffee. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, mint, black cherry and berries, mulberry, tobacco, cedar, needs time.
Score- 17.70 (5th best wine tasted thus far for 2024, out of 112 wines tasted).
6. Tamboerskloof John Spicer Syrah 2017
Colour- inky dark red, with no gradation to a clear rim. Nose- violets, fynbos, spice, cherry, chocolates, toast, coffee, toffee, black currant, black cherry. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins,mint, Eucalyptus, menthol, liquorice, spice, coffee, toffee, Christmas cake, with a leathery feel, and dried fruit after palate.
Score-18.62 (18.615 actually, best wine tasted thus far in 2024, highest score for a wine at Vats since 1999, the closest was the Mont Rochelle Miko Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, which scored
18.59 in 2018).
Well certainly a tasting with firsts, a first time tasting the Tamboerskloof Viognier and the Grenache Blanc for many of us. The highest scoring wine since we have had electronic scores, which was started by JP Meijer in 1999, the second closest score to 18.615, was the Sir De Villiers Graf First Baronet 2015 of De Grendel, which was tasted in 2022 and scored 18.545. Second best wine in this tasting was the Tamboerskloof Syrah (5th best for 2024) and third the Viognier. This was an amazing tasting, that held everyone enthralled, with a simply brilliant presentation! Thanks to Deonette Leyte and Jenny Pritchard of Wine Theatre, for organising that Reynie came to us, as well as organising that the wines arrived before the tasting. Also a huge thank you to Reynie for presenting his wines to us!!
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