2011 Porseleinberg
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Tasting Notes
This wine still feels young, the nose brooding with dark fruit, leather and liquorice, the palate tightly packed with intense, black-berried fruit and a chalky grip of tannins. With the year’s conditions only two tons per hectare were harvested, the smallest crop ever from the site – and given the small volumes this was never released, with only 800 bottles made. Aged for 24 months in concrete egg.
Critic Scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Porseleinberg never received a commercial release. Louw told me that with a depleted 1,200 bottles they opted to keep the bottles, occasionally selling dribs and drabs to visitors and a few leaked into local auction. Based on this showing, I hope that this sophomore does see the light of day. It is more understated than the 2010 yet delivers the same unerring delineation and poise, a little more tertiary on the nose, hints of morels and girolles permeating the black fruit. The palate is harmonious and fresh as a daisy. The satin-like texture is so seductive, and it fans out beautifully towards the finish with a little more red fruit than the entry. When this is belatedly released, don’t hesitate in trying to obtain a bottle.
About the producer
Porseleinberg is a single-site Syrah from the Swartland that has, since its first vintage in 2010, become one of South Africa’s most celebrated and sought-after wines. Made by cult winemaker Callie Louw from incredibly poor soils on the slopes of the Porseleinberg, the wine is rightfully revered.