The wines of
Steenberg, Constantia
South
Africa revisited part 23: white wine specialist from Constantia
Website: www.steenberg-vineyards.co.za
Steenberg translates as ‘Stone
Mountain’, and is one of the leading properties of the Constantia
wine region. The farm itself dates back to 1682, making it the
oldest official farm in South Africa. Initially, it was huge,
stretching to Muizenberg. Now it’s much smaller, with 60 hectares
of vineyards, but there’s also a high-end hotel and spa, a golf
course and a restaurant. It is owned by Graham Beck (since 2005).
JD
Pretorius
The focus here is on Sauvignon Blanc and
Semillon. There are 37 hectares of Sauvignon and 6 hectares of
Semillon. I visited with cellar master John Loubser and winemaker JD
Pretorius.
John
Loubser
We also lunched at the fabulous Bistro
1682, which is a great combination of tasting room and high-end
restaurant.
The
wines impressed. I was particularly surprised by the performance of
the 1995 Sauvignon Blanc, which was lovely. Who'd have though it?
THE
WINES
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Nice fresh aromatics. Fruity, bright, pithy and a bit green with
nice acidity and fresh fruit. 89/100
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Slightly smoky with nice greenness and good fruit. Pleasant pithy
edge. Still fresh and appealing. Fine with good acidity. 88/100
HMS Rattlesnake 2011
This is a new label and incorporates fruit from Darling and
Durbanville. The Darling component is fermented in 500 and 600 litre
barrels. This is fresh and citrussy with a nice thiol component,
some fatness and pithy citrus notes.
HMS Rattlesnake 2010
Chalky, green, fresh and pithy with some richness and wood
influence. Fresh and full. 88/100
Steenberg Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Ripe, fruity and lively with nice acidity under the richness. A
ripe, concentrated style. 90/100
Steenberg Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Some green pepper, asparagus and melon notes on the nose. Very
fruity and fine with fresh, grassy fruit notes. Mineral with some
chalky notes. Lots of interest here, and great concentration. 91/100
(190 Rand)
Steeberg Semillon 2011 (barrel sample)
This is barrel fermented. From a young vineyard, it shows tangerine,
grapefruit and citrus notes with some green herbiness. Very lively.
First crop, 3 year old vines.
Steenberg Semillon 2010
40% new oak. Grassy with some toastiness but also mandarin and
citrus notes. Lovely fruit expression. 90/100
Steenberg Semillon 2007
6 weeks in 100% new oak. Green pepper, herb and asparagus notes here
with citrus and grapefruit freshness. A bit green. 86/100
Steenberg Methode Cape Classique 2009
Pithy, taut and lemony with nice freshness. Some minerality. Fruity
and straightforward in style. 88/100
Steenberg Magna Carta 2009
The flagship wine of Steenberg, a Sauvignon Semillon blend. It’s
the second vintage (first was 2007). Crisp with some chalky
greenness. Pithy, citrussy and ripe with some tangerine and
grapefruit notes. Fine and precise. 90/100
Steenberg Magna Carta 2007
Grapefruit, tangerine and and citrus notes with subtle herbiness.
Very expressive with refinement and a gentle texture. 92/100
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc 1998
Gold colour. Intense, rich and slightly oxidised with nut and citrus
notes. Rounded and nutty, this has seen better days, but it is still
quite a nice drink. 86/100
Steenberg Catharina 2000
Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend. Golden colour. Lively, spicy and
peachy with real intensity. Bold and nutty with some evolution.
Drinking very well still. 90/100
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc 1995
Yellow/gold colour. Beautifully alive with ripe peach and melon
flavours, as well as some citrus peel. Pure and fresh with lovely
texture. Thrillingly lively. 93/100
SOUTH
AFRICA REVISITED
Part
1, Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards
Part
2, Cape Point Vineyards
Part
3, AA Badenhorst
Family Wines
Part
4, Eben Sadie: Sadie
Family Wines and Sequillo Cellars
Part
5, Paul Kretzel of
Lammershoek
Part
6, Mullineux Family
Wines
Part
7, Vondeling
Part
8, Scali
Part
9, Sterhuis
Part
10, Raats
Part
11, Migliarina
Part
12, Charles Back and Fairview
Part
13, Hermit on the Hill
Part
14, Klein Constantia
Part
15, Iona, Elgin
Part 16, Paul
Cluver, Elgin
Part 17, Eagles'
Nest, Constantia
Part 18, Anthonij
Rupert
Part 19, Rupert
& Rothschild
Part 20, Oak Valley, Elgin
Part 21, Shannon, Elgin
Part 22, La
Motte
Part 23,
Steenberg, Constantia
Wines
tasted 03/11
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