August 2016 Imported Wine: 2013 A.A. Badenhorst Curator Red, Swartland, South Africa
Fine Wine Source Wine Club
August
A.A. Badenhorst: A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines are grown, made, and matured on Kalmoesfontein Farm in the Swartland Appellation of South Africa. Swartland is a large wine producing region 40 miles north of Cape Town in the Western Cape Region and specializes in making rich, fruit driven wines from Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, and Pinotage. The Badenhorst family owns close to 70 acres of old bushvines in the Siebritskloof region of the Paardbeberg Mountain’s north face. The Badenhorst property is owned by the self-proclaimed “dynamic and good-looking” cousins Hein & Adi Badenhorst. Adi began making wine at the age of 13 and studied at Elsenburg in the Western Cape. He worked a few harvests in the Northern Rhone of France for Chateau Angelus & Alain Graillot, as well as Wither Hills in New Zealand. Adi also had stints at local cellars Simonsig, Steenberg, Groote Post, and nine years as winemaker at the esteemed Stellenbosch estate of Rustenburg. In 2008 he bought the Kalmoesfontein Farm with cousin Hein and they proudly practice biological farming and traditional winemaking. Today, Adi is an award winning winemaker, member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, founding member of the Swartland Revolution, and a proud father of two.
About: The Curator is a range of dynamic wines that are selected after each year’s vintage. The grapes are grown mainly in granite & slate soils, handpicked, chilled overnight, and de-stemmed into tank fermentation. Extraction is done by pump-over and punch-down, depending on the type of tank-but not that much, leaving the harsher tannins in the skins. “We go easy on them and let the grapes give us what they want without being too forceful.” The Curator Red is mostly done in concrete tanks, old casks and blended early so that the components get some time together to integrate properly before the wine is bottled; 15 months maturation is the norm before they think of bottling.
Varietals: Shiraz/Cinsault/Grenache/Tinta Barocca/Carignan
Alcohol: 14%
Tasting Notes: Broad and slightly rustic fruity nose of plum & raspberry. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a slightly grainy texture, with espresso-tinged red berry fruit & a pleasing finish.
Food Pairings: Have some fun with this wine and coneys! Step it up with spice rubbed brisket, grilled lamb, or a lovely grilled London broil—Pip Pip!
Jim Lutfy’s Thoughts: Savory and deep fruit loaded with cedar, toabacco, and hickory. Best served with anything on the Barbeque!