On the 1st of October Anri Bester Gerber and Eugene Joubert of Liquid Gauteng brought Trevor DeRuisé of Lost Boys wines, to present his wine to us. Trevor was a previously famed professional mountain bike rider who came to South Africa with the goal of working a single harvest season. But he fell in love with our country, it beauty, our people and our terrior. What a very interesting man, and his story is a very interesting one. Renting vineyards and winemaking space, whilst learning as much as he can from everyone around him. Trevor is really a great guy making brilliant wines, with completely new concepts, that many others are already copying! The following is the order of the wines that we tasted with the comments of the tasters and their average scores.
Lost Boys Rose 2023 (70% Syrah, 25% Cinsaut, 5% Viognier)
Colour- light pink to onion skin. Nose- orange blossoms, citrus, strawberry, candy floss, red cherry, peach, quince. Palate- crisp acidity, pomegranate, oranges, citrus, red cherry that lingers to the finish, complex wine.
Score- 16.35.
2. Lost Boys Latigo Rose 2023 (100% Mourvèdre)
Colour- light copper to orange. Nose- sherbet, citrus, red cherry, peach. Palate- crisp acidity, red cherry and berry, spice, aniseed, liquorice, oranges, lemons, white peach.
Score- 16.88.
3. Lost Boys Fume Blanc 2023 (wild, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc)
Colour- light green heart, gradating to golden rim. Nose- green gauge jelly, flint, citrus, terpene, honey. Palate- crisp acidity, citrus, lemon, asparagus, toast, green herbs, honey, complex, with a heavy mouth feel, and a beautiful length.
Score- 16.77.
4. Lost Boys Carbonic Cinsault 2023
Colour- light red with no gradation to a pink rim. Nose- citrus, bubble gum, strawberry, red cherry, raspberry jelly, caramel. Palate- crisp acidity, soft tannins, spice, smoke, meaty, sour cherry, sherbet, caramel, strawberry, Maraschino cherry, marzipan, with a red cherry finish.
Score- 16.17.
5. Lost Boys Shiraz 2023
Colour- deep red with no gradation to a clear rim. Nose- complex with pencil shavings, tobacco, floral (?), white pepper, smoke, fynbos, black olives, caramel, toffee, black cherry and berry. Palate- crisp acidity, soft but firm tannins, tobacco, cedar, white pepper, spice, cloves, green herbs, savoury, salty, plum, black cherry and berry, with a salty finish.
Score- 17.20.
6. Lost Boys Brut Rose Pet Nat 2024 (100% Shiraz, wild ferment bubbles in bottle, crown cap closure)
Colour- light pink to copper, with a very fine mousse. Nose- floral, citrus, strawberry, peach. Palate- crisp acidity, peach, Turkish delight, candy floss, red cherry, strawberry, watermelon. Score- 16.53 (a totally new concept in MCC, unique and different, confused many tasters).
Trevor is a brilliant presenter, his talk was filled with jokes, and information. He tells you his story of how he came to find wine, to love it and make these unique wines. He tells you of the people he has met that have influenced him, his style and the way he thinks of making wine. He has taken MCC to a complete new level Pet Nat (Petulance from Natural fermentation) and MCC will never be the same. Kumusha of Baobab in Wellington is copying him. And it appears that Graham Beck has come up with a similar concept in their new range called “The Artisan Collection Yin and Yang - The Crown and Cork”, where they make a Pet Nat that is crown cap and cork closed? I am sure there will be lots more Pet Nat in store for South Africa, thanks to Trevor! Best wine in the tasting the Shiraz, followed by Latigo Rose and the barrel fermented Fume Blanc. Thanks kindly to Anri and Eugene for introducing us to Trevor and his wines. Probably one of the best tastings that our members have been to, if not the best. The discussion that Trevor generated was superb. An amazing evening, thanks Trevor, please come back and show us next year what you have been up to, we can’t wait!
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