Rich, sweet, mineral scent. Very characterful, full-bodied and intense taste, which should probably convince anyone of the future greatness of the Pinotage grape.
South Africa’s Southern Right is located on a strikingly beautiful 448 acre property in the relatively cool and maritime appellation, Hemel-en-Aarde, just off the picturesque old fishing village of Hermanus, just south-east of Cape Town. Southern Right was founded in 1994 by Anthony Hamilton Russel. The goal has always been to produce an excellent, storable Pinotage, South Africa’s own, unique grape. The wine must be a combination of a typical, South African fruity taste palette with classic style and sophistication. As the grape ripens relatively early, Pinotage is obvious in the slightly cooler regions in which Southern Right is located. At the same time, the rocky, clayey and slate-rich soil on the hillside slopes is perfect for creating the classic style that the winery strives for. The winery’s very strict volume control, and focus on harvesting only when the grapes are fully ripe, helps to redefine and set new standards for what can be achieved with South Africa’s ‘national grape’. The Sauvignon Blanc grape continues to be a bestseller both locally and internationally with its classic, tight minerality, which goes great with the elegant fruit. At the same time, the wine house’s Sauvignon blanc has been voted the best in South Africa by the Wall Street Journal, and it has been listed four times in the Wine Spectator as one of the wines that delivers the most for its money. In August 2005, Anthony Hamilton Russel partnered with two businessmen and wine enthusiasts to purchase the 448 acres west of Hamilton Russel Vineyards and make them a permanent home for the Southern Right. The wine cellar on the Southern Right was completed in time for the 2009 harvest. In addition to being an excellent wine house, Southern Right is also home to more than 200 acres of beautiful scenery. The wines are named after the rare whale species, which also bears the name Southern Right. The whales are found in the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay, just three kilometers from the vineyards – and for every bottle sold, Southern Right makes a donation to the whales’ and the area’s well-being.
