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Before I first tasted the Neil Ellis Op Sy Moer (on the lees), I was not expecting anything more than what I've tasted before and had extended lees contact, normally Chardonnay. This wine, made from Palomino and Chenin Blanc, was unlike anything I've ever had.
A while back, I told friends that I tasted a Belgian beer that tastes like wine. They looked disgusted. Then I told them about a wine that tastes like beer, and I had all their attention. So I let them taste Op Sy Moer, and they enjoyed it just as much as I did.
The grapes for this wine come from non-irrigated bush vines that are planted in between natural fynbos. The grapes are whole bunch pressed and barrel-fermented for 6 months, kept on the fine lees. No additives or sulphur were added.
This wine is unfiltered, and therefore it has a gold-yellow colour that is cloudy and hazy. It has a complex nose of lemon, quince, tropical fruit, and yeast. The complexity of this wine is also evident on the palate. My first thought was that of beer, due to the yeast, herbs and dried fruit taste. But then the lemon zest and ripe green apple notes come through. It has a zesty finish.
This is a wine that is difficult to present at a tasting, because you should actually be able to drink a glass of two of this wine. The more time you spend with it, the more it showcases its complexity. This wine should be served chilled well and it is recommended that the bottle is stored with its neck down and turned around 3-5 days before drinking for the lees to settle. Only 1024 bottles were produced and each bottle is numbered. This is a must-try for adventurous wine lovers!
Producer: Neil Ellis
Variety: Palomino 51%, Chenin Blanc 49%
Vintage: 2020
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Winemaker: Warren Ellis
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.0%
RS: 1.0g/l
Average price: R330
Rating: 96/100
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