Lokaia, Pound of Flesh, Semillon, Bo-Hoek, Franschhoek, South Africa, 2020

Franschhoek has, for more than a century, been known as one the country’s foremost regions for growing the illusive Semillon grape. Pound of Flesh is a fresh take on Franschhoek’s oldest grape variety. Hailing from the Bo-Hoek and grown from Franschhoek’s lowest-yielding commercial block of Semillon, the grapes were harvested at a low potential alcohol, cooled and then crushed to extract aromatic phenolics from the skins. Cold-settled and then racked quickly, the juice was fermented in stainless steel at a high turbidity to create richness, texture, flesh.

The nose on this Semillon has laser-like focus – steely minerality and bright lime zest abound. The palate shows fierce concentration and tension, which will allow this wine to develop over many years from vintage. The gentle phenolic structure and bright acidity give the finish immense length and salinity.