Bellingham’s focus on Shiraz as varietal reaps the rewards

Reaffirming its position as one of SA’s leading Shiraz producers – in fact the first in the country to produce Shiraz – Bellingham’s The Bernard Series Small Barrel SMV 2013 was selected as one of the Top 4 in the Shiraz blend categories at the 2015 Shiraz SA Wine Challenge. The BernardSeries Basket Press Syrah 2013 earned a spot on the Top 12 list, in the category for Shiraz wines at the same competition. Bellingham was the only producer at this competition to have a winner in both categories.

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With their focus primarily on Shiraz and Shiraz blends the hard work and dedication delivered by winemaker Niël Groenewald and his team, both in the vineyard and cellar, has paid off with this latest accolade.

Shiraz SA organizes the annual competition, which is the official association for all South African Shiraz producers and aficionados. The association is dedicated to creating awareness for the superior and award-winning wines produced locally from this Rhône cultivar. A total of 202 entries were received (162 shiraz and 40 blends).

The consistency and superior quality of these wines has been acknowledged in two prestigious competitions already this year. The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2013 was awarded the Bacchus Trophy earlier this year, whilst both wines earned a spot on the 2015 SA Top 100 Wines Competition.

Niël describes The Bernard Series Small Barrel SMV 2013, a blend of Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Viognier, as “being a deep ruby colour with a bright crimson rim. A mosaic of alluring black and red berry and cherry aromas layered with dark chocolate, winter spice, rose and violet are prominent on the nose. These flavours are carried through to an intricate intensely fruited palate that is both powerful and graceful, with a long smooth succulent finish of good length and complexity. An attractive and instantly engaging wine with tremendous complexity already, but promises seamless integration and intrigue on maturation for up to 10 years in the bottle”.

This superb wine is available directly from the cellar at R250 per bottle.

Not lagging behind The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2013 is best described as being “a powerful aromatic wine.  Assertive, yet delicate and refined the wine shows ample cracked black and white pepper spice flavours on the nose, with hints of rich dark chocolate. This is carried through on the palate with a substantial blackberry and mulberry fruit foundation tinged with subtle floral suggestions of violets and dried indigenous fynbos. A generously structured wine with astute ripe tannin texture that promises further integration and complexity on cellar maturation for up to 10 years”.

Available directly from the cellar at R170 per bottle.

For more information visit www.bellinghamwines.com.

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