I wanted to keep the Naudé Wines Colombard on my shelf for as long as possible because everyone commented about its beautiful baby blue wax seal. I was, however, happy to eventually take it off and share this wine with the members of the Decanter Wine Club. I specifically chose the Colombard because some members, like many other people out there, had a negative perception of the Colombard grape variety. This probably stems from the fact that Colombard does not have strong varietal characteristics and is often used in blends or distilling brandy. After tasting the work of Ian Naudé, many people have and still will change their attitude about this grape variety.
This wine is made from certified old vines that were planted in 1983 in Vredendal, a rather flat area in the Western Cape that does not have the altitudes and mountains of other areas as its primary terroir. Because of this, the vines are exposed to optimal sun exposure and seaspray from the Atlantic Ocean, less than 40km away. It has a light, clear hay-colour in the glass. The smell of this wine is fresh and clean but slightly reserved. I advise against heavy swirling because this wine has some delicate aromas that might disappear when swirled. Typically Colombard, the most forthcoming fruit is peach with hints of green apple and lemongrass. On the palate, it is a light-bodied wine with a high acidity that keeps a freshness throughout. The peach and green apple develop further on the palate with fruity hints of white peach and white pears. It finishes off with a fresh salinity.
My biggest challenge with this wine was: where do you put it in a line-up of wines? I decided to put it first in line with the white wines, following a Blanc de Blanc MCC. It was chilled well and worked well in the line-up – most people thought it might be a Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc. I am curious to see how this wine will develop over 10 years or so. In the case of an older vintage, it will probably line up better after a lightly-wooded Chenin Blanc.
There are only a few producers in South Africa who make a single variety Colombard. This one is worth a try!
Producer: Naudé Wines
Variety: Colombard 100%
Vintage: 2021
Origin: Vredendal, Western Cape, South Africa
Winemaker: Ian Naudé
Closure: Natural cork
Alcohol: 12%
RS: 1.3g/l
Average price: R360
Rating: 93/100

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