Stony Brook Vineyards
100% Tempranillo, Franschhoek
92 Points – Tim Atkin MW
“A very rare sighting in the Cape of Tempranillo, Ovidius would put a smile on the face of a winemaker from Rioja or Ribera del Duero. Stylishly oaked in 65% new barrels, it has appealing bramble and blueberry fruit, plenty of supporting acidity and the granular tannins that are a hallmark of the variety at its best.” – Tim Atkin MW.
One of South Africa’s pioneering Tempranillos, Ovidius combines the structure and savoury character that lovers of Rioja will recognise with the freshness and purity that make Stellenbosch such an exciting place to grow this noble Spanish variety.
This week we introduced Bodega 202, a boutique Rioja producer reminding us why Tempranillo remains one of the world’s great grape varieties.
This week, we’d like to show you the South African perspective.
The McNaught family at Stony Brook Vineyards took a chance on a grape few others believed would thrive here. Planting some of South Africa’s earliest Tempranillo vines in 2008, they set out to prove that Stellenbosch could produce wines every bit as compelling as their Spanish inspiration.
The result is Ovidius 2021, a wine that has just earned 92 Points from Tim Atkin MW, who remarked that it would “put a smile on the face of a winemaker from Rioja or Ribera del Duero.”
That’s not praise given lightly.
Rich, savoury and beautifully structured, this is the kind of bottle that reminds us why South African wine continues to represent some of the greatest value in the world today.
