Newton Johnson, Albarino 2021

This is the first Albariño to be produced in South Africa, after the Newton Johnson family imported the vine material of this fragrant variety to the Cape with designs on establishing it as a harmonious pilgrim to the maritime conditions of the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The grape has its origins on the wet and cool Atlantic north-west coast of Spain and Portugal, where monks are fabled to have brought it from the Rhine River in central Europe on their pilgrimages centuries before. Its native soil is of Granite origin, similar to those found at Newton Johnson, where it expresses subliminal definition, almost Riesling-like florality and complexity.

An opulent vintage with fascinating floral perfumes. Matured for 8 months in stainless steel (57%), a large concrete egg vessel (33%) and old, bigger volume barrels (10%) with no fining and only a very light filtration before bottling. A dense base of white peach and quince fruit juxtaposed with a beeswax/lees character. Airy scents of apple blossom and honeydew exhilarate the senses with an austere edge of apple skin. The waxy texture envelops the palate, succulent in the middle, and the flavour protracted by delicate acidity and the grip of mealy grape tannin. A very tasty Albariño!

Newton Johnson Vineyards is owned and managed by the Newton Johnson family. The farm is based in the upper Hemel en Aarde Valley near the seaside town of Hermanus, an hour and a half’s drive out of Cape Town. This is a popular tourist destination, famous for some of the most spectacular land-based whale watching in the world lush indigenous fynbos, a floral kingdom, home to 1500 species and exclusive to the Cape, mountain walks and bike trails.

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley has seen an explosion of quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay over the last decade, and I believe it to be capable of producing wines of world renowned authenticity. The sloped vineyards face the southern winds of the cold Atlantic which couple freshness with the linearity and florals produced in the wines by our granite soils, which also happen to make it an ideal situation in which to grow amazing quality Albarino grapes.