The wines of Haskell Vineyards and Dombeya. Visiting this grand new estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa

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1 The W IN EANORAK.COM full H askell-dom beya report Jam ie Goode vom bekannte US W INEANORAK.COM besucht Haskell-Dom beya in Stellenbosch und ist von der Dom beya w ie auch von der Haskell range begeistert. Lesen weiter unten seinen Bericht über die Farm, die Leute hinter dem Erfolg und das excellente Long Table Country Kitchen Restaurant und schliesslich die ausführlichen Bew ertungen der W eine. w w.kapweine.ch/w eingut/dom beyahaskell.asp Dombeya Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 89/100 Dombeya Chardonnay 2010 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 88/100 Dombeya Merlot 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 89/100 Dombeya Boulder Road Shiraz 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 90/100 Dombeya Samara 2006 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 86/100 Dombeya Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 88/100 Haskell Anvil 2010 Stellenbosch, South Africa.92/100 Haskell Pillars 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 93/100 Haskell Aeon 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 92/100 Haskell IV 2007 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 94/100 Haskell II 2009 Stellenbosch, South Africa. 92/100 Wines tasted 11/11 The wines of Haskell Vineyards and Dombeya Visiting this grand new estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa Haskell Vineyards, PO Box 12766, Die Boord, Stellenbosch, 7613 Tel: Website: info@haskellvineyards.com

2 The Haskell farm was purchased in 2002 by Moscow-based Preston Haskell IV, the son of a wealthy American (Preston Haskell III) who owns the Florida-based Haskell Construction Company. Set in a beautiful location on the slopes of the Helderberg in Stellenbosch, neighbouring Rust en Vrede, it was called Dombeya at the time of purchase, and it had previously been a citrus farm. The current vineyard was planted in 1999 and The project started under the Dombeya brand, but it changed to Haskell in 2006, with the Dombeya name retained for a foundation range of easier-drinking wines. The first Haskell wines were released in 2009 (small quantities of the 2007 vintage). Rianie Strydom

3 I met with consultant winemaker Rianie Strydom for a tasting and lunch, along with general manager Wikus Pretorius. Rianie had left Morgenhof and was freelancing when the opportunity to work for Haskell came up in 2005; she ended up working full time as winemaker here, but is now back consulting. Wikus Pretorius A restaurant, the Long Table, was added in It s a lovely location for lunch, looking over the vineyards, and the food is very good. Lunch at the Long Table There are 15 hectares of vineyards here, and Haskell is all estate grown with the exception of some of the grapes for the Aeon (a Syrah) which come from a neighbouring farm on the Helderberg.

4 Young vines THE WINES Dombeya Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Stellenbosch, South Africa Fresh and grassy with nice fruit, showing some generosity and fresh acidity. Good body and acidity: a bright style. 89/100 Dombeya Chardonnay 2010 Stellenbosch, South Africa Fresh with some citrus notes and buttery, toasty richness. A nice, fresh, savoury style with some nuttiness. 88/100 Dombeya Merlot 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa Very attractive with sweet blackberry and spice notes as well as some subtle earthiness. Balanced with a bit of gravelly character. Very stylish. 89/100 Dombeya Boulder Road Shiraz 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa Lovely meaty wine with warm spicy notes, and some olive character. Lively, peppery aromatics, too. Nice meaty, peppery palate with berry fruits to the fore. 90/100 Dombeya Samara 2006 Stellenbosch, South Africa Spicy, earthy and lively with a savoury, earthy character and a grippy finish. 86/100

5 Dombeya Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Stellenbosch, South Africa Attractive chalky, gravelly blackcurrant fruit. Quite savoury with dense fruit and good structure, and a slight earthy edge. 88/100 Haskell Anvil 2010 Stellenbosch, South Africa This is a Chardonnay. Fine, fresh toasty nose is taut and quite mineral with fresh lemony fruit. Taut, crisp palate showing citrus fruit and real precision. Good acidity, with just a touch of toastiness. Almost Chablis-like in style, but with a bit of oak. 92/100 Haskell Pillars 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa This is a Syrah. Aromatic, pure, meaty cherry and plum fruit nose. Ripe and meaty. Quite an elegant style. The palate is ripe yet balanced with some meat and olive notes as well as lovely ripe fruit. Elegance rather than power here. 93/100 Haskell Aeon 2008 Stellenbosch, South Africa Syrah with 5% Mourvèdre. Fresh, ripe and vivid with plum and blackberry fruit. Nicely elegant with good freshness. No rough edges here: rounded, with a hint of savoury meat and olive. Very nice tannins. 92/100 Haskell IV 2007 Stellenbosch, South Africa 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Taut, ripe and quite fresh with powerful blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Some firm spiciness. The palate is ripe and concentrated, but measured with some lovely firm structure. Lovely berry fruits and a bit of grip. 94/100 Haskell II 2009 Stellenbosch, South Africa 50% Shiraz, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Mourvèdre. Nicely elegant, refined nose showing fresh ripe berry and cherry fruit. Supple berryish palate with nice freshness and good tannins. Really elegant, ripe style with some interesting chocolatey, spicy notes. 92/100 Wines tasted 11/11