2023 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Cape Coral Mouvèdre Rosé'
Regular price £14.59 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Mourvedre is perfect for Waterkloof, with its head in the sun and feet in the sea. So, not one to follow fashion, Paul Boutinot has made it the most planted red grape on this biodynamic farm. Cape Coral Rosé has vindicated that decision, promptly proving itself to be one of the finest rosés in The Southern Hemisphere, if not The World. Pale in colour and discreet of fragrance, yet with a palate weight and texture that makes it a decidedly gastronomic rosé.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Pale salmon colour
Nose
Delicate aromas of peach, spice and herbs are prominent on the nose.
Palate
A fresh, yet broadly textured mouthfeel with a long, savoury and deeply satisfying finish. This rather grown-up wine makes a wonderful partner to almost any dish you care to prepare.

'Rooibos! Distinct terroir character here – whether it’s fynbos or tea or whatever, it certainly seems to reflect its home. Excellent softness and complexity. As valid a fine wine as many reds or whites – really shows what great rosé can do. Finishes with a long, mealy length.' – Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20
'A delightfully pale coloured Rosé. Delicate red berry aromas combined with a flinty note are prominent on the nose. The palate is soft with a lingering fresh acidity on the aftertaste. Traditionally the wine is served chilled on its own, but also marries well with spicy, tuna-based sushi.' – Nadia Barnard
Awards
The Wine Merchant Top 100 2016 - 2015 Vintage
Production
Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Mourvedre vines are dry-farmed, windswept and low-yielding. Production is a minuscule (for rosé) 5 tons per hectare. Grapes were hand-harvested followed by a gentle whole-bunch pressing in a horizontal basket press, to extract only the finest juice. No further maceration of the juice with the skins was allowed. The juice was run down via gravity into tank and left to settle naturally for 12 hours. From there the clean juice was racked off to wooden fermenters to start the natural fermentation spontaneously, relying on wild yeasts that occur naturally in the vineyard. The reason why Waterkloof ferment in older wooden fermenters is to ensure a slow ingress of oxygen throughout the process and therefore a longer fermentation without picking-up any oak aromas. The wine was then left on the primary lees to add further complexity before bottling. The wine then spent a minimum of six months on lees. No fining, just a light filtration. The only addition was a small amount of sulphur before bottling.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned, organic, biodynamic and WWF Biodiversity Champion farm perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. To learn more please visit their website.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Mourvèdre |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Anything goes, whether it be sushi, spice or even steak! |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Stellenbosch |

2021 Brotte Esprit Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great wine with character, elegant and typical, honouring the historic grape variety and king of the southern Rhône Valley: Grenache Noir.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Medium intensity with aromas of small berry fruits and delicately spicy hints of pepper, thyme and garrigue.
Palate
Supple, silky, full-bodied and elegant with very fine tannins. Notes of undergrowth and liquorice accompany the aromas of wild red fruits and black cherries on the finish.
History
Since 1880, five generations of the Brotte family have been making wines with passion and authenticity. The fruit for this wine comes from selected small wine producers in the Rhône Valley, all of whom have been partners of Maison Brotte for several decades. The vines are planted on a very beautiful clay-silt terroir and which benefit from a lot of sunshine. The hot and dry climate therefore favours the ripening of the grapes and the good health of the vineyard.
Critics Review
- 89 points James Suckling | Very fresh red-cherry and floral aromas for this appellation, together with some healthy tannins on the full-bodied, but lively palate. Slight warmth from alcohol at the supple finish.
- 89 points Wilfred Wong of Wine.com | The 2021 Brotte Esprit Cotes du Rhone is rustic and savoury with lovely berries. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavours of ripe berries, rustic spices, and earthy notes. Pair it with a slow-cooked lamb stew. (Tasted: October 17, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre |
Country | France |
Alcohol Content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Enjoy with a fresh mushroom omelette, beef tenderloin, homemade burger, veal blanquette or couscous. Or with a creamy cow's cheese such as Romans d'Isère. |
Origin |
Southern Rhône |
