Monkey Business
It’s not often I get to taste Pinot Noir (PEE-noh NWAH) these days. Its
spiritual home is the Burgundy region of France, where it’s used exclusively to
make some of the best red wines anywhere. In recent years, red Burgundy has
become terribly expensive and especially so in Thailand. Although the grape is
very successful in New Zealand, some interesting Pinot Noirs are now coming out
of South Africa.
Winemaker Justin Corrans.
It seems that Pinot Noir grapes are also popular with South
African baboons, who invade the local vineyards in search of sweet treats. They
prefer Pinot Noir to less expensive varieties and select only the ripest grapes.
To the dismay of the wine growers, the baboons evidently enjoy Chardonnay grapes
too and often become completely stoned after feasting on grapes that have fallen
off the vines and have been fermenting in the sun.
These two wines wine come from Distell, a huge company with
an extensive portfolio of trademarks. The name “Two Oceans” refers to the Indian
Ocean and the Atlantic, which between them create cool breezes over the coast of
South Africa, creating an ideal climate for ripening the grapes.
Justin Corrans makes the red wines for the “Two Oceans” brand
and he and is extremely enthusiastic about the wine industry. “The vineyards are
everything,” says Justin, “And good wine stems from good grapes. Because
winemaking is extremely creative, it gives me the opportunity of being an
inventive scientist in the cellar.”
Two Oceans Pinot Noir 2010
(red),
South Africa (Villa Bt. 495)
Pour a glass of this bright ruby-red South African wine and a
lovely aroma of strawberries wafts out of the glass to meet you. There are hints
of cherries and a pleasant woody oakiness with dry herbs and spices lurking
among the background aromas. There might even by a tiny dash of earthy vanilla
in there too. There’s absolutely no smell of baboons, although to be honest I am
not exactly sure what a baboon smells like.
The strawberries are well up-front in this pleasant,
medium-bodied wine and if you concentrate, you might pick up more hints of spice
in the background. Actually, the taste is quite assertive and lively with a kind
of sharp zesty bite on the palate. I noticed that after the bottle had been open
for a while, it began to soften quite considerably. The tannins are very supple
but they come through perfectly on the dry, smooth finish.
Justin Corrans has made a wine (at just under 13% alcohol
content) that would make an excellent accompaniment to beef dishes or game. It
would probably work well with pasta too: the clean mouth-feel of the wine would
contrast well with a creamy sauce.
Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc
2011 (white), South Africa (Villa Bt. 492)
Sauvignon Blanc (SOH-vee-nyon BLAHN) wines are often
described as “zesty” because they retain a decent amount of acidity to keep them
fresh. They’re often very aromatic with citrus flavours. The Sauvignon Blanc is
a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region. The
name comes from the French word sauvage meaning “wild”.
This wine is a bright pale straw colour, with a greenish
tinge. There’s a pronounced aroma of citrus and ripe gooseberries with a soft
background smell of tropical fruit. Actually, the aroma is quite complex, which
usually indicates a well-made wine. After the delicate introduction, the zingy
fruitiness hits the palette with a pleasant surprise. The gooseberries are out
in force in this lovely crisp wine and you might even pick up a hint of
grassiness in the background. The light body is balanced by a splendid long
creamy, lemony finish.
At just over 11.5% alcohol, this is a lively, well balanced
young wine, full of joie de vivre. I’d be perfectly happy to drink this
wine on its own but it would also make a jolly nice aperitif to perk up
everyone’s appetite before dinner. You could serve it (very cold, of course)
with food such as chicken, grilled fish or shellfish.
And while you’re drinking it, just feel grateful that those
baboons didn’t get to the grapes first.