Description
CELLAR INFORMATION 16 months in French oak barrels, 50 % new VINEYARD INFORMATION Leaf fall occurred later than usual which allowed good reserves to build up in the vines. The similarly delayed onset of Winter allowed for good cold unit accumulation. Rainfall was the lowest to date. Days were warm and nights cool. Budding occurred later and flowering was uniform. A dry, warm season resulted in compact berries with some supplementary irrigation necessary. A cooler February allowed for even ripening. An abundant vintage of exceptional quality.
Reviews
Greg Sherwood 94
Colour: Light Bright Red. Nose: Lovely and perfumed with lavender and white pepper spice sprinkled over lusciously dark, sultry berries. Swirls of strawberry cream add delectable richness. Palate: Chalky on the palate with dense, juicy core of pure fruit – blueberries, raspberries and a hint of cherry. Fresh and alive with herbal notes of oregano and bay and beautifully silky, balanced tannins. [Greg Sherwood, 01/01/2023]
Tim Atkin 93
[Tim Atkin, 01/01/2023]
Producer Profile
Given owner Toby Venter’s assumed need for speed, as CEO of LSM Distributors, responsible for Porsche and Lamborghini in South Africa, as well as the owners of Kyalami race track, his purchase of Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards in 2013, up against the slopes of the Helderberg seems in direct contrast to this high octane lifestyle.
Everything in wine is time. Uva Mira is named for a famous star in the constellation of Cetus (a Greek sea monster who was offered the princess Andromeda to appease Poseidon but was slain by Perseus either by sword or using Medusa’s head which turned him to stone – the details are complicated and murky). The giant red star named ‘the wonderful’ or ‘Mira’ in Latin undergoes a 332-day cycle of fading into obscurity, becoming bright, and then fading again (over almost a year), drawing parallels between winemaking and stargazing. The patience inherent to growing grapes, understanding the terroir, blending, and maturation, the once-a-year opportunity to harvest, and the celebration once you can taste the literal fruits of your labour – explains the name Uva Mira, Latin meaning The Wonderful Grape.
