Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.85%
Residual Sugar 3.1 g/L
pH 3.2
Total Acidity 6.1 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Semillon Gris
Semillon Gris100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite
Harvest Dates latter part of our season
Vine Age 11 years old
Fermentation Vessels Oak Barrel, Open Vat
Maceration 7 days
Production Details Tin Soldier is a partially 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 1963. The colour of the wine is unusual, having taken some bright copper tones from about a week’s fermentation on skins. This wine is composed of a portion of grapes which are pressed to old oak barrels and another portion which is fermented on skins (no stems) for 7-10 days in open vats. Later in the year we play a little with these blending components to get the texture and weight of the wine just right. The interplay of fruit and aromatic lift from the direct pressed wines, and the savoury tones from the skin-fermentation is key to this wine’s appeal. If we go back 100 years, Semillon was responsible for probably 95% of the wine made in this country. Tim James’ research on the variety suggests that the red mutation may at one time have been even more common than the white. I’m really fascinated by the idea of the kind of wines that would have been made in the old days using these mixed vineyards, and this led me to the idea of fermenting the grapes on their skins for a few days to bring out more of the colour and texture of this wonderful grape. 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, gingerbread, tangerine rind, blood orange, flint
Palate: yellow apples, crème caramel, orange cake, quince, rooibos tea
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Producer Information
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Owner
John and Tasha Seccombe
Cellarmaster
John Seccombe