Vergelegen Straw Wine 2021

The Vergelegen Straw Wine has been made by drying Sémillon grapes that reached a good ripeness on straw mats. This way, the concentration of the grape juice is sweet and intense. However, this straw wine also has a good elegancy to it, making it slightly different to its counterparts.

In the glass, this wine has a gold yellow colour with a syrupy viscosity. On the nose, it offers tropical fruit, citrus and stone fruits with a slight note of earthiness. The acidity on the palate is great and the sweetness is not overpowering, creating a good balance with the alcohol and acidity. Ripe Canary melon, fresh apricots and hints of pineapple is on the foreground, against a backdrop of lime and lemon, all brough together by a sweet honey. It has a long finish that is refreshing and fruity.

This wine reminds of a Bordeaux Sauternes with its intricate complexity that is very elegant. Although it can be enjoyed now, this wine is way too young to be opened now. I would leave it for a minimum of 5-10 years before I taste it again, and there is little doubt that it will age beautifully. Nevertheless, for now it can be enjoyed as a dessert wine, either on its own or with a milky dessert or a selection of matured cheeses. It should be served chilled well on ice.

Producer: Vergelegen

Variety: Sémillon 100%

Vintage: 2021

Origin: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

Winemaker: Luke O’Cuinneagain

Closure: Cork

Alcohol: 12%

RS: 184.57g/l

Average price: R250

Rating: 92/100