NITIDA
I have not been especially silent about my misgivings around Ye Olde Durbanville region in terms of their wine offering, but I have also found a few gems worth revisiting – such as the Nitida Coronata Integration. In this tasting we revisited this old favourite.
WHITE:
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Sauvignon Blanc (2013): Lees contact. Soapy lime Turkish Delight, green Sparkles, lime peel, growing acid, nutty, drinkable but lurking acid, slightly weighty.
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Semillon (2013): 50% barrel ferment. Salted green peppercorns, capers, softness, velvety Velcro, Thai curry warmth in the throat, shy, salted honey. (*)
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Coronata Integration (2012): Very salted caramel, honey on buttered puff pastry, baklava, jasmine, peach blossom. 6 – 7 years aging potential. (**)
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Riesling (2013): Platter 5 star. Litchis dipped in Vaseline, lurking petroleum, orange & apricot, crisp green apple, Ruby grapefruit, citrus. (*)
RED:
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Calligraphy (2012): Bordeaux Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot. Blueberry Jolly Jammers, violets, blueberry jam, brambles, Spekulaas, decanter wine.
NOTES:
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140 5 star wines in 2014
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Platter Guide sales are 2nd only to the Bible in SA
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“Semillon tastes like ass-paragus”
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Off-dry wines – “the ones you eat with sticky pork”
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Calligraphy named after the diaries that were written in calligraphy made from crushed protea bark
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Use an old milk truck partitioned into tanks for ferment
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1999 – farm’s first Sauv won double gold at Michaelangelo
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8 workers on the farm
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Workers used to get paid per lug box
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Nitida now pays the workers for the estimated duration of the harvest
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Harvest 4 – 6 tons per day
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