Lismore Age of Grace Viognier 2021 offers a fresh, elegant take on Viognier from Elgin’s rose-quartz soils. Initially subtle, it opens with delicate floral notes, gentle spice, and citrus zest. Medium-bodied and textured, the palate delivers juicy apricot, tangerine, and quince flavors balanced by a vibrant mineral tension and a touch of phenolic bitterness. Barrel and concrete egg fermentation add complexity without heaviness—this wine is refined, precise, and lively, perfect for drinking now through 2025, with decanting recommended to reveal its full character.

The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Dec 29, 2023
Drink: 2022-2030

Initially subdued in the glass, the 2021 The Age of Grace Viognier lifts from the glass with some swirling. The softly floral wine offers subtle hints of spice and citrus zest before the medium-bodied Viognier showcases a delightful texture and sweet citrus flavors. The palate displays a delicate mineral tension with a kiss of phenolic bitterness over the food-friendly finish. Decanting is recommended.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17
Published: Sep 19, 2023
Drink: 2023-2025

From four parcels in the cool Cape South Coast. Oxidatively handled juice, spontaneously fermented in 50% big barrels and 50% concrete eggs.
Ripe apples, lovely definition. A susurration of spices. Concentrated yet precise fruit, red-gold and juicy: apricot, tangerine, quince. A soft purple bloom and a scrunch of spice. But it's tight. 'Winemakers tend to lean into Viognier', Samantha O'Keefe tells me. 'I don't. I lean away from it.' The texture on this is wonderful and she's captured the heart and richness of Viognier without any of its excesses – it's not voluptuous, not oily, not blousy. So fresh!

Lismore.co.za

This expressive viognier, grown on rose-quartz soil, seduces you with the beautiful perfume of honeysuckle and orange blossom and a textured palate of apricot, kiwi and pineapple. A sensual and exotic experience. Barrel fermented and aged. Enjoy it now or allow it to gain complexity with further cellaring.

Wine Made in the Soil
This viognier is a reflection of my obsession with how special soils, climate and a mysterious sense of place come together to produce an extraordinary wine that tells you its story.
This wine is grown on Rose-Quartz soils in Elgin, a cool, high altitude plateau. The region offers a lengthened ripening period which brings the grapes late into season- often 3-4 weeks later than traditional wine growing areas in South Africa. This provides the opportunity to develop deep complexity and concentration.

Winemaker's Notes 
The grapes were picked and whole bunch pressed, slowly extracting the juice at a rate of 550ltrs per ton. The juice was settled for 48 hours and was racked into older, neutral 225 litre Burgundian barrels, and a 1500 litre concrete egg for fermentation and maturation lasting 10 months The 'egg' component is 20% of the production. 

Wine Making Aesthetic
Balance is the key to this wine. Viognier is an aromatic and generous varietal, it benefits from barrel maturation and lees contact with a fuller mouth feel and increased texture. This combined with the firm acid backbone and intense fruit will allow this wine to integrate beautifully and gain further complexity over the next 3-5 years.

Alcohol: 13.5 % RS: 2.8 g/l Total Acidity: 6.69 g/l pH: 3.21
Wine of Origin Cape South Coast