"A wine at its glorious peak, showing outstanding purity of fruit - both fresh and dried - and an intense savouriness. The blackcurrant, blackberry and plum flavours are surprisingly vivid 12 years after harvest. A moreish layer of stewed tomatoes, black olive tapenade and crushes mountain herbs is a vehicle of complexity and vibrancy, A very accomplished Cape blend of Syrah and Pinotage - muscular yet elegant, with great integration of oak and alcohol."
93pts, Decanter (Weekday Wines) November 2024
It's the embodiment Cape Blend-drinking pleasure. The essence of sensuous, cool climate syrah and pinotage pleasure. This is Sumaridge Estate's 'Epitome' cuvée. From Hemel-en-Aarde of South Africa's Walker Bay region where for some time many of the nation's finest wines have been emerging - syrahs worthy of Northern Rhône provenance, Burgundian-calibre pinots, and chardonnays.
'Epitome' is also the summation of what pleasure proper autumnal drinking ought to provide. Where a palate rich with ripe blackcurrant, mulberry, bell pepper and cracked pepper rides a warm wave of smoky oak to a deep, lingering finish finds 'Epitome' '12 doing exactly this.
Where its 60% syrah provides luxurious body and invigorating structure, while a remaining pinotage component builds additional layers of dark fruit, leather, tobacco leaf, spice, and firm tannins - where proper maturity under cork renders outstanding value for money.
You'll spend twice this on a well-known Northern Rhône of equivalent quality. It's why we urge that you take advantage of this opportunity to purchase from the very small parcel we've managed to secure. Because frankly, when it comes to offering customers such refined boutique craftsmanship at such attractive prices, Sumaridge Estate's is the epitome.
