BOSCHRIVIER WINES
Thursday 23 November 2017
http://www.boschrivierwines.co.za/

Experience: 3.5/5
Wines: 3.5/5

I was in a new wine tasting area today – Elim and towards Stanford. I had already visited Black Oystercatcher Wines and the Lomond Wine Estate. Boschrivier Wines and Raka Wines were barely a few kilometres apart and so it made sense to taste at both.

Boschrivier Wines lies at the foot of the Klein River Mountains at the heart of the Overberg. The 14 hectare farm belongs to paediatrician Dr Theo de Villiers who followed his dream by converting his grandfather’s wheat and onion farm to vineyards in 1998 on virgin shale soils. Three hectares of Shiraz, 6 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 hectares of bush Shiraz have since been planted. Fittingly for a paediatrician and vineyard owner, the de Villiers motto is ‘la main à l’oeuvre’ which translates as ‘hand at work’.

The drive up the Klein River valley was stunning, with low hills to my right and the mountain ridge line above the river on my left. The entrance to the farm was easy to find. Parking was just inside. The Tasting Room, in an old Cape Dutch house could easily have been Dr de Villiers home or that of his grandfather.

Charlene welcomed me in for the tasting that was just 4 wines. Local crafts were for sale in an adjacent room, coffee and light meals for sale, there was a large stoep at the end of the Tasting Room and, I heard, the Manor House could be booked for 4 couples to explore the region.

I started with a youthful Sauvignon Blanc. It was a decent wine that opened up in the glass to give aromas of grapefruit, lime and melon. Acidity was average for a pleasant wine but the finish was light. The Rosé is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, the 2 red cultivars grown on the farm. This was an easy drinking summer Rosé, dry and undemanding with a simple sweet red fruit nose.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and the Shiraz were my first wines from the Wine of Origin Overberg. Twelve months in French oak gave the Cabernet Sauvignon body to go with forwards rich berry fruit flavours of blackberry, cassis and vanilla. I preferred the Shiraz that was my favourite wine of the tasting. It was full bodied too, more fruity than spicy, and slightly restrained on the nose. I liked how the spices emerged on the palate to balance the fruit flavours and tannins.

Boschrivier offered a mini tasting of 4 wines that covered all tastes. Charlene did little more than pour which did not matter as there was a tasting sheet to assist. The wines were decent but not exceptional that one would not expect for their price. The Doctor has done well with his hands.

Wines tasted (bought *):

White:

2017 Sauvignon Blanc – R60

Rosé:

2017 Rosé – R45

Red:

2014 Cabernet Sauvignon – R130
2014 Shiraz – R130 FAVOURITE WINE