WTN: 2004 Hidden Valley Shiraz (Stellenbosch, SA)

It's not often that I get Shiraz from South Africa, what with the home-bred Pinotage being my top favourite and usually available in Ontario. I got this at Vintages for a nickel shy of twenty dollars; it's a winery I hadn't heard of before.

14% alc. Very dark, saturated garnet with a black-cherry/garnet core. Big, ripe liquorous nose with hints of telltale SA leather, high-quality oak and ripe Shiraz fruit but no peppery aromas. I can tell the nose as being warm-climate Shiraz but as is usually the case, I have a harder time delineating the individual aromas of that nose than with other varieties. Strong, ripe mouthful of a wine with good balance, structure and tannins; a savoury mid-palate and more quality oak towards the finish. Some telltale bitter leather too, though not as much as I usually enjoy in Pinotage for example. Again, a savoury and long finish with nice leather and oak-spice accents. This was a very enjoyable match with curried chicken sosaties and well worth the money.

Some telltale bitter leather too, though not as much as I usually enjoy in Pinotage for example. .

Telltale of what, Paul?

You say Pinotage tastes of bitter leather, yet here it is in a Shiraz.

What I call "bitter leather" is probably what others have quite variously referred to as "antiseptic", "coal", "burnt rubber", etc. There's no accounting for choices of descriptors - yet this aroma is something that I am fond of in SA reds, and it is very SA to me: I usually get it in South African reds, but most strongly in Pinotage.

I too have used the term burnt rubber in the past!! I checked, this winery not available in AB.

I too have used the term burnt rubber in the past!! I checked, this winery not available in AB.

For Shiraz, Bob?

Interesting. I've often noted a swamp-like smell (quite pleasant actually for me) in many SA reds, no matter what grape they are from. I have no idea what causes it, but could this be what you are all talking about?

Otto, I think we're getting closer: it's an "irony well-water" / "leather" / "coal exhaust" -type aroma. I'm glad you like it too - we seem to be in the minority!

I have no idea what causes it

I'm no chemist, but something tells me it's not terroir..

I have no idea what causes it

I'm no chemist, but something tells me it's not terroir..

Something ending in "...myces"?

Something ending in "...myces"?

Like I said, I'm no chemist. But...

I have no idea what causes it

I'm no chemist, but something tells me it's not terroir..

Something ending in "...myces"?

Well, I hadn't thought that the saline+vegetal smell of swamp and shite would be caused by the same source. But maybe that is why I find them all so attractive!

-O-