Wine Advisor
Boekenhoutskloof, Semillon 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Anthony Mueller
The 2021 Semillon, made with a splash of Muscat, offers a fresher, brighter profile compared to the 2020 vintage, with less noticeable reduction on the nose. This year's rendition is brighter and fleshier, featuring wax melon, yellow apples, brown baking spices and an open-knit nose with underripe peach and slightly nutty nuances. Medium to full-bodied, it presents a subdued phenolic bitterness and a fuzzy, integrated texture, culminating in a food-friendly finish. After aging for 14 months in 70% new French barrique, 12,786 bottles were produced.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2021 Semillon comes from two vineyards, one planted in 1942 (white sand plus granite) and another in 1902 (granite with quartz). It was whole bunch pressed and aged for 14 months in 70% new French oak. Blended with 3% Muscat d'Alexandria, also planted in 1902, it has a delineated, lanolin-tinged bouquet with a hint of green olive. The palate is beautiful, waxy in texture, with veins of lemongrass and lemon thyme, detailed and poised with impressive concentration on the finish. This will be a serious, long-term Semillon, and I know from first-hand experience how brilliantly they can age in bottle. This will be released in 2024.
About the Producer
Boekenhoutskloof was established in 1776. Located in the furthest corner of the beautiful Franschhoek valley, the farm’s name means “ravine of the Boekenhout” (pronounced Book-n-Howed). Boekenhout is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for furniture making. In 1993 the farm and homestead was bought and restored and a new vineyard planting programme was established that now includes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon, and Viognier. Boekenhoutskloof is a Syrah specialist, with its premium Boekenhoutskloof range selling out on release each vintage, and The Chocolate Block – a Syrah based blend – is probably the most successful new wine offering to come out of South Africa in the modern era. The Wolftrap brand of blended Rhone-style wines was inspired by the pioneering spirit of the early settlers who built what is now a monument to their adventurous spirit. A maverick spirit, Boekenhoutskloof’s Managing Partner & Technical Director Marc Kent is the driving force behind the various brands and properties within the Boekenhoutskloof stable. He is unafraid to experiment with the unconventional – however, his principal commitment is to quality on every level and in every detail. Marc is as committed to the continued development and growth of Boekenhoutskloof as he is to the greater South African wine industry. He has been actively involved in the Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism Association as a Board member since its inception and has chaired the Vignerons de Franschhoek on numerous occasions.
