I’m having pheasant for dinner tonight. The shooting season has started with a bang (sorry couldn’t resist) and to celebrate we’re drinking a tasty Rhône-esque South African red. Not one to begrudge the southern hemisphere and it’s offerings I was pleasantly impressed with the massive quality in Adi Badenhorst’s
Family Red 2006. This morning was my first introduction to the painfully timid wine maker from Swartland. To quote him when asked what role he has at the winery with his cousin Hein Badenhorst, “I’m the good looking one”.
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Adi and son Samuel
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Adi with pet pirates
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His claims that lack of funds and idol laziness are the reason behind the rustic winery techniques – no crushing or destemming, no new oak etc are difficult to believe as his wines are anything but lazy or cheap tasting. Me thinks his 10 years working as wine maker at Rustenberg and extensive globe-trotting have given him the great confidence to just let the grapes speak for themselves. Verging on biodynamic he believes in the fruit that comes from his old vineyards. The
‘Family Red 2006’ doesn’t exude over ripe jammy Syrah; it’s not typical South Africa. Instead expect initial restraint on the nose, really fresh black berries and herbs, in the mouth deliciously dark bitter chocolate and dark black fleshy fruits with spice tamed by a refined minerality that creeps in. For more information check out our 2010 JN Christmas catalogue. If you like Southern Rhone; Gigondas-style, you must try this wine.
I mustn't forget his Secateurs range. In a nutshell, if you’re thinking of buying a standard Cotes-du-Rhône for your everyday drinking – don’t. Buy S
ecateurs Red 2009instead. It’s as simple as that. Similar blend, so much concentration and length, at a perfect price point. The
Secateurs White 2009 (Chenin Blanc) is big. Not for you namby-pamby Sauvignon Blanc wimps. Orange peel, honeysuckle, clean acidity, perfect food wine. To sum up – Adi Badenhorst makes the perfect wines to welcome in the blustery winter season.
