2019 Aristargos
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Aristargos is a blend of 47% Chenin Blanc, 13% Sémillon, 11% Clairette Blanche, 10% Viognier, 8% Marsanne, 6% Roussanne, 3% Verdelho and 2% Grenache Blanc. A bit of everything, in other words. I am looking for a little more identifiable grape variety in this blend, which, despite everything in the mix, does not quite add up to more than the sum of its parts. The palate is well balanced with a smooth entry. It sports a slightly honeyed texture but, like the nose, its needs a compass, a sense of direction. An enjoyable wine but it needs to think long and hard about what it wants to be.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
47% Chenin Blanc, 13% Sémillon, 11% Clairette Blanche, 10% Viognier, 8% Marsanne, 6% Roussanne, 3% Verdelho, 2% Grenache Blanc. Another wine from granite soils of the Paardeberg but this time a Chenin-dominant blend rather than a varietal Chenin. Chenin Blanc from shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg and iron-rich clay soils to the west of Malmesbury are also added along with Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne, Verdelho and Grenache Blanc from iron-rich clay and lateral shale soils. The vines were planted between 1960 and 2013 and yields varied from one to four tonnes per ha. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed and naturally fermented, then matured for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels. The grapes from the two Sémilllon vineyards were fermented on their skins for a week before being pressed and matured in a big, very old 2,500-litre foudre for a year. TA 5.6 g/l, pH 3.38, RS 2.3 g/l, total SO2 91 mg/l. Total production 10,000 bottles. Very pale. Lots of fun. Juicy, less tense than the varietal Chenins. No single strand; this is clearly a blend and Chenin does not dominate the nose or palate. Wine bar wine? Clean and fresh. No desperate hurry to drink this and there is some persistence but it's the most casual wine made by David & Nadia. (JR)