Wines that express a belief in the very best
Tuesday, 16 April, 2013
Stellenbosch Vineyards
Stellenbosch Vineyards, formerly known as "the company of wine people",
has just launched four new wines under its distinctive Credo label. The
Credo range has been christened 'Quattuor' meaning four and represents
"four of the best only" from each vintage.
The Credo SMV 2010, a blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Viognier grapes, and the Credo Chenin Blanc 2010 and Credo Chardonnay 2012 were all bottled in the last week of February. The grapes for these premium wines were sourced from local Stellenbosch terroir and together join the Credo Shiraz 2010 that was bottled late last year.
Credo, the Latin term for "I believe", reflects a belief in wine excellence backed by over 30 years of winemaking experience. Working closely with the growers, some even 3rd generation, the winemaker Bernard Claassen sources the best grapes from vineyards in the Stellenbosch region. He then has the luxury of taking his time to bring out the best in the grapes. "It is our creed to make the very finest wine we can make."
The Credo Shiraz 2010 is a rich, deep purple wine with a bright violet rim. On the nose it shows flavours of lavender, plums and black pepper and the palate is dominated by bold black cherry and heather with lovely balance and hints of cloves and a delightful edge of French oak. The tannins are ripe and supple and give way to a very long, silky finish.
Says Claassen about this Shiraz, "I am a self-confessed Shiraz lover and this really is the cream of the crop when it comes to this varietal. Out of a selection of more than 80 barrels, we finally narrowed it down to 16 barrels to blend a wine with incredible balance. In today's commercially focused market-environment, it is a special privilege to be able to devote so much time to a wine. It is definitely a food wine; a heavyweight. It can mature for up to 10 years from vintage."
The Credo SMV 2010 is another grand wine, almost black in colour with a ruby edge. It shows loads of Viognier to give true complexity on the nose. The wine follows through to the palate with elegance and finesse.
The Credo Chenin Blanc 2010 is a wine with a rich straw colour with a golden tint. Honey, pineapple and treacle on the nose give way to intense butterscotch and tropical flavours on the palate. Beautifully balanced acidity and careful use of French oak complete this wine of rare distinction.
The Credo Chardonnay 2012 is pale gold with hints of green and a voluptuous body with aromas of buttered toast and crème brulée. It has a firm structure with a mélange of citrus, treacle toffee, melon and a hint of ginger. The finish is seamless and lingers long after the last drop.
These wines are available at the Cellar Door at Welmoed. The Credo whites and the Credo SMV 2010 are available at R100 per bottle and the Credo Shiraz 2010 at R145 per bottle.