One week, one wine... Stark-Conde Stellenbosch wines

April 26, 2017
One week, one wine...

Dear Wine Geometrists,

This week I have been at a Wine Tasting event in 75cl.sg, and met with Mr Jose Condé, producer of M.A.N. and Stark-Condé wines.

This Missouri-born wine lover has made the most of the main grapes grown in South Africa, using different grapes and especially different winemaking techniques to bring out a full palette of flavours, in order to please us all.

But first, let's have a look at Mr Condé's wine region: Stellenbosch

A Guide to the Stellenbosch Region

The crown jewel of South Africa’s wine industry, Stellenbosch, is a charming, Dutch-influenced countryside region and college town (home of the prestigious Stellenbosch University and much of South Africa’s viticultural research) that happens to boast some of the most exciting wineries in the country among its mesmerizing hills and mountains.

Situated inland enough, the climate is marked by the kind of warm growing season that produces powerful, age-worthy Bordeaux and Rhone-style blends, but still within the reach of sufficient rainfall and cooling “Cape Doctor” winds from the ocean.

Stellenbosch has a warm Mediterranean climate and sandy, sandstone soils that can also produce excellent Chenin BlancSauvignon BlancChardonnay, and single-varietal Cabernet SauvignonMerlotSyrah, and even Malbec wines.

So, even though South Africa is mostly known for its Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, it is able to excel in growing all the Southern European grapes as well, those of warmer climates.

The Stellenbosch wineries, I have pointed out at Mr Condé's estate

Out of the 8 wines introduced, I would like to get your attention on two beauties this week: 

White wine: Stark-Conde The Field Blend 2015

First question straight off the bat: what is a "field blend"? 

Well, we speak of a "field blend" when more than one grape variety is planted within one vineyard. Field blends happen all over the world, though they're now rare. In the past, winemakers just planted different grapes in their vineyard as an inexpensive way to blend wines. All the grapes are harvested at the same time and fermented together—a true field blend doesn't separate by varietals at harvest; the "blend" is whatever Nature gives that vintage.

Modern winemakers generally prefer to plant and pick each variety separately, knowing that they don't always ripen evenly. Sometimes a winemaker will ferment multiple grapes together (a practice called co-fermentation), which invokes the spirit of field blends. But most winemakers blend different lots of wine together after the fermentation is finished to better control the process.

This wine contains an interesting mix of Roussanne (44%), Chenin Blanc (38%), Verdelho and Viognier in smaller quantities. It is interesting in the sense that Roussanne and Viognier are two punchy floral grapes from the Rhone valley in France originally, which are balanced by two fruity grapes which are Chenin Blanc and Verdelho. The whole is an extremely complex range of aromas, quite herbaceous, and very lively.

Tasting notes: Pale lemon appearance, Clean nose with medium aromas of flower, lavender; Weighty texture, floral, swallow very interesting as it gives more flowers than fruits. It feels like eating a flower! Great, excellent length, great complexity.

Stark-Condé The Field Blend 2015

Red wine: Stark-Conde Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Tasting notes: Clear, medium ruby appearance; Clean, nice smell of violet, jasmin, blackcurrant, black cherry. Very elegantly balanced, this wine was 22 months aged and 6 months bottled, to bring complete satisfaction.

Personal grade: 19/20

No default: 4/4

Nose: 3.5/4

Palate: 4/4

Length: 3.5/4

Depth: 4/4

As a comparison, this is what Decanter wrote about their 2011 vintage: 

95 points - Modern, vibrant and vivacious. But also classical and true to its Stellenbosch roots. Great florality (jasmine and violets), polish and presence here with ripe creamy cassis and coffee notes on the palate. The Cabernet fruit is grown on decomposed granite from the Jonkershoek Valley and winemaker Jose Conde’s expert fruit handling means that the silky tannins and violet notes really stand out and sing. This wine is all about elegance, freshness, pleasure and refinement. A genuine class act and a joy to drink now and for the next ten years.

Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Where to buy in Singapore: HERE and HERE !

Enjoy your drinks! 

Sylvain Gamard

My name is Sylvain, I'm a 28 year old Frenchman, raised with a passion for wine! 

I want to share my passion and the pleasure of wine with you all! 

My goal is to run you through the basics of wine, and show you that this ancient juice has quite a number of interesting stories to tell...

Related Posts

Stay in Touch

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form