Community Tasting Note
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David Strange wrote:
October 13, 2023 - The first sniff reveals delicate scents of red fruits suffused with heady aromas of rose petals and hints of exotic spice.
A second sniff shows the red fruit is only part of a continuum of fruit flavours that blend seamlessly from lingonberry to blackcurrant the involute nature of which is enhanced by the rose, spice and the merest suggestion of Cabernet Franc leafiness.
It is a highly engaging nose, thick with fragrance, sweet with fruit, yet not at all powered by alcohol. This is the pure expression of the grapes, and they express that they were picked at the peak of their unequivocal attractiveness.
It is amazing that so much perfume can come at such a low alcohol level, and the nose is all the more beautiful for lacking any heat or burn to it. Oupa Willem 2020 is totally at ease with itself. Confident, charismatic, captivating.
When one tastes the first impression is of light red fruit with good energy and life. It unfolds on one’s palate to deliver rose petal and musk flavours. Very nice!
As you swirl Oupa Willem 2020 around your palate a leafy freshness develops along with darker fruit flavours. Given how light it initially tasted it begins to show a reasonable degree of structure to its tannins, which build and, with the bright acidity, give a vibrant grip to the palate. The tannins seem surprisingly ripe for a 11.5% wine.
The more you taste, the more you are seduced by the fruity, floral flavours that permeate the now distinctly tannic palate. More and more keeps on being revealed by this palate, it is quite the little temptress, and to keep tasting it is to love it with a greater intensity. It is delicious!
There is no shame in drinking this now, but I feel in 5-10 years this will display even more complexity and there will be even more integration between the components that already sing such a sweet song together.
Oupa Willem 2020 is clearly the best one yet; chapeau, Ian!215 views