Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.22%
Residual Sugar 2.1 g/L
pH 3.26
Total Acidity 5.6 g/L
Calories (estimated) 100 kcal / glass
150ml glass100 kcal
750ml bottle500 kcal
Grape Varieties Semillon Gris
Semillon Gris100%
Region Western Cape
Maceration 4 days
Production Details The wine is a skin-fermented wine made from Semillon gris, which is almost unique to South Africa, and a vestige of a time when Semillon was the grape on which the South African wine industry was built. The vineyard has been established from a selection massale of Semillon gris cuttings, taken from an adjacent vineyard of Semillon that was planted in 1964. The colour of the wine is unusual, having taken some bright copper tones from about a week's fermentation on skins. The nose is expressive with spice, sweet papaya, ginger, citrus peel and marzipan notes. Over the past couple of years, we have dialled the ripeness up a notch, making for a more complete and "grown-up" wine, which we feel is in a very good space with the 2019 edition. The interplay between savoury and sweet is a key point of interest in Tin Soldier, and makes for a subtle and engaging wine. On the nose there is oyster shell, peach kernel and buttered toast. The palate is finely structured, with fresh acidity and full flavours of cape gooseberries, sesame seeds and Oolong tea. It is dry and delicate, while at the same time showing a core of richness and depth. The winemakers wanted to avoid making a 'gimmick' wine. In the run up to the first harvest of this wine, they were still considering what approach might be to this unique varietal. While sampling the vineyard and tasting the grapes, they hit on the idea of fermenting it on skins, bringing out the wonderful skin tannins and hopefully extract some of that wonderful colour. The extraction is managed very carefully to retain a delicacy in the wine, while bringing out a lot of complexity. Through the years they have also included a portion of the wine that is directly whole-bunch pressed with no skin fermentation. This portion helps to lift the aromatic profile of the wine, and achieve this wonderful interplay of fruit and savoury tones that they enjoy in the wine. It is truly a wine they love. All of their wines take their names from archetypal childrens' toys, and Tin Soldier takes its name from Semillon's status as the old footsoldier of the South Africa industry. Much like the old toy soldiers buried in the garden, Semillon has been reduced to a mere shadow of its former glory days in the Cape.
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Owner
John and Tasha Seccombe
Cellarmaster
John Seccombe