Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Spier – 21 Gables Pinotage / 2020
Stellenbosch – South Africa 🇿🇦

Overview
A benchmark Pinotage from one of South Africa’s oldest wine estates, Spier (est. 1692). This single-varietal Pinotage highlights both Stellenbosch terroir and the estate’s commitment to sustainability and vegan-friendly practices.

Aromas & Flavors
A concentrated nose of ripe blackberry, plum, and mulberry intertwined with smoky mocha, sweet spice, and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, dark fruit depth melds seamlessly with cocoa and subtle oak.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet polished, with smooth, integrated tannins and a long, velvety finish. Rich and powerful, but retaining freshness that keeps it balanced.

Food Pairings
Grilled lamb chops with rosemary, smoky barbecue ribs, roasted root vegetables, or aged Gouda. A natural partner for bold and savory dishes.

Verdict
An exceptional Pinotage that balances tradition with finesse. It showcases why Stellenbosch is considered the spiritual home of the grape, and why Spier remains a leader in South African fine wine.

Did You Know?
Pinotage is South Africa’s signature grape, created in 1925 by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault (then known locally as Hermitage). Spier’s “21 Gables” line honors the Cape Dutch heritage architecture of the estate.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A jewel of Stellenbosch. This vintage shows remarkable balance and depth, one of those rare Pinotages that leaves a lasting impression and deserves a spot in any serious collection. — 8 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Fundemex jbeckman — 2 years ago

Kerri

9.0

Good semi dry bubbly. Loved the tiny bubbles, holds up well. Not too sweet — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

✨ Cheers to treasures of the Côte des Blancs!

🥂 Allow me to introduce Champagne Agrapart & Fils, a fourth-generation grower-producer based in the Grand Cru village of Avize – right in the heart of the Côte des Blancs region, where Chardonnay reigns supreme.

🍾Pascal took the helm of his family’s winery in 1984 and is now joined by his son Ambroise, carrying on the family tradition of meticulous winemaking to craft exceptionally beautiful champagnes that offer an authentic sense of place.

🌿 In support of this aim, Agrapart pursues an ancient approach to farming the family’s 12 hectares of vines, in harmony with nature, according to the natural rhythms of the calendar, trading chemicals for compost, and working the land by hand.

🍇 In the winery, Pascal & Ambroise allow fermentations to happen naturally through ambient yeast found in the surrounding environment & on the surface of the grape skins. They neither fine nor filter their wines, and riddling is done by hand – a rarity in this day and age given efficiencies that can be gained through mechanization (e.g., gyropalette).

👉 Here we have Agrapart’s “Terroirs” bottling made with 100% Chardonnay from a blend of vintages and vineyard blocks from the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oiry, and Oger. It’s extra brut with 5 grams of sugar / liter in dosage.

😍 It is a stunning Blanc de Blancs expression giving voice to the Côte des Blancs.

👌 This wine is focused, nuanced, & elegant with perfumed aromas of lemon meringue, lemon pith, crisp apple, star fruit, white tea, blossom, oyster shell, salinity, toast, smoke, chalk, river bank, frozen pie crust, and blanched almonds.

On the palate it’s bone dry and laser focused with an electrifying acidity that is balanced by a creamy mousse and concentrated flavors consistent with the nose.

💫 Cheers to delicious wines of authenticity & soul! — 5 days ago

with Deked1

Alan Hense

9.2

Full bodied with classic notes of lanolin wet wool, ripe peaches, lemon and vanilla. — 3 years ago

OMG PEDRO

9.5

Amazing #vinako !! … Fresh and refreshing mid-weight Rivera del Duero. Gentle tannins. Expected low acidity and flavors of ripe strawberry fruit, herbs, leather, licorice, cocoa and tobacco but with complexity and a mineral smooth beautiful finish that one don’t expect in such a young wine… In my modest and humble opinion one of the BEST wine producers on the planet…. I am just looking at the bottle in disbelieve and thankfully thinking about however made this nectar of the Gods possible… Every HITO is exactly that : en event , a celebration, an accomplishment … What can I say … Thank you !! And keep it cming for years to come… — 4 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.3

Wow! Super elegant. — 8 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.6

Pepe garcia — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark inky in color with a reddish rim.

Very pretty nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, Indian spices, cola and light black tea.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, light vanilla, dark coffee, Indian spices, light cola licorice and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious 9 year old Merlot from Columbia Valley. Rich and extracted. Spicy and entertaining.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Smooth and elegant. Fruit forward and tangy. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75. — 10 months ago

David J. H. Ruiz

10

2/21/2022: Brunch TYP + Family — 4 years ago