Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.8%
Residual Sugar 2.3 g/L
pH 3.24
Total Acidity 5.9 g/L
Calories (estimated) 105 kcal / glass
150ml glass105 kcal
750ml bottle525 kcal
Grape Varieties Semillon Gris
Semillon Gris100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite sands
Vine Age 9 years old
Maceration 7 days
Production Details Tin Soldier 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. Over the past couple of years, we have dialled the ripeness up a notch, making for a more complete and "grown-up" wine. The interplay between savoury and sweet is a key point of interest in Tin Soldier, and makes for a subtle and engaging wine. The one thing we wanted to avoid here was making a gimmick wine. In the run up to our first harvest of this wine, we were still considering what our approach might be to this unique varietal. While sampling the vineyard and tasting the grapes, we hit on the idea of fermenting it on skins to bring out the wonderful skin tannins and hopefully extract some of that beautiful colour. The extraction is managed very carefully to retain a delicacy in the wine, while bringing out a lot of complexity. Through the years we 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. It is truly a wine we love. All of our 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 African 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.
Tasting Notes
Nose: ripe apricot, Thai basil, nutmeg, toasted pistachio, baklava
Palate: fresh, salty olive brine, bitter citrus
Producer Information
Website
Email
Owner
John and Tasha Seccombe
Cellarmaster
John Seccombe