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Tasting notes
Named after Miles Mossop's wife. 90% Cabernet Saauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Merlot and 2.5% Petit Verdot. The fruit comes from two blocks in Stellenbosch. 45% in 225-litre new wood. Long and powerful, savoury (a touch of tamari) and dark, dark fruit. Dark herbs. Mushrooms. Masses of muscular, glossy medium-grained tannins laid over gritty tension. Tea leaves, green tea. Sencha finish. A wine that needs time and food. (TC)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Sam is ripe and fresh with picturesque red fruits that sway with elegance and finesse before offering oak spices with soft florals on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, the red blend is bright, nimble and food friendly, offering a balanced frame with succulent tannins before concluding with a long, spicy finish that has me coming back for more. The wine rested for 22 months in French oak, almost half new barrels. Just under 1,300 bottles were produced.
Mainly Polkadraai Cabernet Sauvignon plus 5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Merlot and 2.5% Petit Verdot. Sweet, rich, intense nose with an ambitiously dry finish. One for the future. (JR)
The 2019 Sam is Mossop's Cabernet-dominated blend that comes from blocks specially bought to assemble the wine mainly from the Polkedraai area. It has a very gorgeous bouquet with blackberry and raspberry coulis scents, touches of dried mint and a touch of liquorice. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins that frame the layered graphite-infused black fruit, plenty of freshness and impressive precision on the Pauillac-like finish.