I would like to first wish all a very festive season and a fantastic end to this year.
And a huge thank you to all for the support over the past year.
As we cruise towards the end of the year it is time to reflect briefly on the year that was.
2019 has been a challenging year for all in many different ways. It has been no different at Miles Mossop Wines. Starting with a very challenging vintage with a great deal of rain and moisture throughout the 2018/2019 growing season and the 2019 harvest. This caused difficulties with ripening and disease, although it proved to be perfect weather for the Kika, a Chenin blanc Noble Late Harvest.
This also marked the first harvest that I could focus 100% on Miles Mossop Wines.
I feel the wines of 2019 reflect the additional focus I have been able to give to them as well as reveal a new Chapter in our journey through wine.
The first half of the year proved to be a tough time to sell wine, but things picked up in the second half and towards the end of the year.
The wine critics of the world have been kind to us with fantastic ratings by Tim Atkin MW in his annual South Africa Report as well as a recent Platter’s 5 star being awarded to our Cape Winemakers Guild Maximilian Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 along with 4 ½ stars for each of the Family wines.
Christiaan Eedes of Winemag.co.za gave all our wines fantastic scores in September and more recently he rated the Saskia 2016 the 2nd best wine rated in 2019 in their top 25 wines of 2019 article recently published https://winemag.co.za/top-25-wines-of-2019-2/
We are heading into a new era with Miles Mossop with us no longer making our wines at the Tokara facility but moving to 2 facilities in and around Stellenbosch for the 2020 vintage and beyond.
And a huge thank you to all for the support over the past year.
As we cruise towards the end of the year it is time to reflect briefly on the year that was.
2019 has been a challenging year for all in many different ways. It has been no different at Miles Mossop Wines. Starting with a very challenging vintage with a great deal of rain and moisture throughout the 2018/2019 growing season and the 2019 harvest. This caused difficulties with ripening and disease, although it proved to be perfect weather for the Kika, a Chenin blanc Noble Late Harvest.
This also marked the first harvest that I could focus 100% on Miles Mossop Wines.
I feel the wines of 2019 reflect the additional focus I have been able to give to them as well as reveal a new Chapter in our journey through wine.
The first half of the year proved to be a tough time to sell wine, but things picked up in the second half and towards the end of the year.
The wine critics of the world have been kind to us with fantastic ratings by Tim Atkin MW in his annual South Africa Report as well as a recent Platter’s 5 star being awarded to our Cape Winemakers Guild Maximilian Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 along with 4 ½ stars for each of the Family wines.
Christiaan Eedes of Winemag.co.za gave all our wines fantastic scores in September and more recently he rated the Saskia 2016 the 2nd best wine rated in 2019 in their top 25 wines of 2019 article recently published https://winemag.co.za/top-25-wines-of-2019-2/
We are heading into a new era with Miles Mossop with us no longer making our wines at the Tokara facility but moving to 2 facilities in and around Stellenbosch for the 2020 vintage and beyond.
Closure for the end of the year
We will be closing for a much-needed break at the end of this week. And due to the closure of the warehouse where we store our wines at the same time this is the absolute last opportunity for you to purchase our wines this year. The last day for processing orders for delivery by the end of next week is tomorrow, Thursday the 12th December.
So, make sure to visit our new website www.milesmossopwines.com to get hold of some of our wines for yourself to enjoy over this festive season. Including some new vintages of our wines.
We will be closing for a much-needed break at the end of this week. And due to the closure of the warehouse where we store our wines at the same time this is the absolute last opportunity for you to purchase our wines this year. The last day for processing orders for delivery by the end of next week is tomorrow, Thursday the 12th December.
So, make sure to visit our new website www.milesmossopwines.com to get hold of some of our wines for yourself to enjoy over this festive season. Including some new vintages of our wines.
New Releases
We have 3 new vintage releases on the back of the previous vintage selling out. These are first being made available to you only on our website and to our database direct.
We have 3 new vintage releases on the back of the previous vintage selling out. These are first being made available to you only on our website and to our database direct.
Saskia 2017
The 2016 vintage was a very difficult one yet produced a stunningly complex wine. The 2017 Saskia has just been made available and is a stunning example of the vintage. Being produced from the same vineyards as the 2016 vintage, situated primarily in the Swartland and the Voor-Paardeberg, the wine is consistent in style yet reflects the vintage beautifully. Even though 2017 was still in the drought years, the crops were slightly higher and the growing season a great deal cooler than the scorching 2016 vintage. The wine therefore has much more elegance and balance, yet still retains the hallmark layers of perfume flavor and texture for which the Saskia is known for. Only 3200 bottles produced means that this vintage should sell out quickly.
The 2016 vintage was a very difficult one yet produced a stunningly complex wine. The 2017 Saskia has just been made available and is a stunning example of the vintage. Being produced from the same vineyards as the 2016 vintage, situated primarily in the Swartland and the Voor-Paardeberg, the wine is consistent in style yet reflects the vintage beautifully. Even though 2017 was still in the drought years, the crops were slightly higher and the growing season a great deal cooler than the scorching 2016 vintage. The wine therefore has much more elegance and balance, yet still retains the hallmark layers of perfume flavor and texture for which the Saskia is known for. Only 3200 bottles produced means that this vintage should sell out quickly.
The Introduction Red 2018
This new vintage marks a shift in style for this wine. Having been a true Bordeaux style blend in the past often dominated by Merlot, we have made a shift to reflect a more truly South African, or rather Stellenbosch blend. This new vintage is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, 62%, with 14% Cinsault being included in the blend along with 14% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cab franc. The Cinsault, being fermented with 30% whole bunches, contributes juicy fruit characters yet firm tannins and a textured finish. The actual style of the wine does not change significantly. It is still a wine which offers upfront fruit with herbal spice and freshness, with a dry textured finish. The perfect braai wine.
This new vintage marks a shift in style for this wine. Having been a true Bordeaux style blend in the past often dominated by Merlot, we have made a shift to reflect a more truly South African, or rather Stellenbosch blend. This new vintage is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, 62%, with 14% Cinsault being included in the blend along with 14% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cab franc. The Cinsault, being fermented with 30% whole bunches, contributes juicy fruit characters yet firm tannins and a textured finish. The actual style of the wine does not change significantly. It is still a wine which offers upfront fruit with herbal spice and freshness, with a dry textured finish. The perfect braai wine.
Kika 2019
After skipping the 2018 vintage due to the drought and the fact that the previous Kika vineyard was pulled out directly after the 2017 vintage. We have a new vintage, 2019 being released.
After searching the Stellenbosch countryside for a suitable vineyard, I finally found one high on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountain. This is a 31-year-old Chenin blanc vineyard which is susceptible to Noble Rot in most years. The 2019 vintage played along perfectly with regular rain throughout the harvest resulting in the perfect conditions for the development of Botrytis. We had to pick 4 times over the period of a month, each time only selecting the Botrytis infected bunches. This is a classic example of a Chenin blanc Noble Late Harvest consistent in quality and balance with past vintages of the Kika.
After skipping the 2018 vintage due to the drought and the fact that the previous Kika vineyard was pulled out directly after the 2017 vintage. We have a new vintage, 2019 being released.
After searching the Stellenbosch countryside for a suitable vineyard, I finally found one high on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountain. This is a 31-year-old Chenin blanc vineyard which is susceptible to Noble Rot in most years. The 2019 vintage played along perfectly with regular rain throughout the harvest resulting in the perfect conditions for the development of Botrytis. We had to pick 4 times over the period of a month, each time only selecting the Botrytis infected bunches. This is a classic example of a Chenin blanc Noble Late Harvest consistent in quality and balance with past vintages of the Kika.
Have a great festive season.
Be Safe!
Be Safe!