BOSCHKLOOF MAKES HISTORY

The 2014 Boschkloof Epilogue Syrah – highest scoring red in South Africa Photo: Supplied

Family-owned winery Boschkloof Wines made history when they became the first South African red wine producer to ever score 98 points in award-winning wine writer and British Wine Master Tim Atkin’s annual report on South African wines. The eagerly anticipated report is due for publication this week.

Atkin proclaimed the 2014 Epilogue as his red wine of the year and reckons that the wine has set a new benchmark for Syrah. “It combines the experience of Jacques Borman with the youthful brilliance of his son Reenen. A wine that wouldn’t be out of place in a range of top Hermitages, it’s a stunning achievement: stony, spicy, peppery and very focused, with a granitic texture, polished tannins and a long, velvety finish. Bravo!” raved Atkin in his report.

Atkin has 31 years’ experience in the wine industry and contributes to a multitude of publications, including the prestigious Decanter magazine. He has been publishing his in-depth special report on South Africa since 2013 and has done similar regional and country specific reports on New Zealand, Rioja, the Rhône, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Argentina, Brunello, Washington State, Napa and Oregon.

Father and son team Jacques and Reenen Borman have had their eyes on this specific single vineyard block for a couple of years and have been watching as it matures. “We’ve always known that this is a special block and as it aged, we could see the potential growing to make a really great wine. Creating the Epilogue was definitely inspired by the time I spent in France and the Rhône-style wines I tasted there. This score is absolutely mind-blowing and we are extremely satisfied to have received such a stamp of approval from an acknowledged wine critic like Tim Atkin,” mentioned Reenen Borman.

The Epilogue was made entirely from the SH99 clone, which was planted in 1996, and was fermented with 20% whole bunches. Limited stock is available from the cellar, which is open from 10h00 – 17h00 from Tuesday to Friday and from 10h00 – 15h00 on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.boschkloofwines.com.