July 03, 2020
‘It’s onerous to select one wine from the Elemental Bob line up, such is the sustained brilliance of the winemaking right here.’ – Tim Atkin MW, Particular South Africa Report 2017
5 years in the past, the softly spoken Craig Sheard, aka Elemental Bob, was hailed by The Drinks Enterprise journal as one in all South Africa’s High 10 winemakers to observe* and his esoteric vary has continued to garner reward and accolades. We met up with Craig again in 2017 (see weblog submit right here) and, though his unconventional strategy led to at least one or two raised eyebrows (surrounding his barrels with crystals was a primary for me) the standard of his wine-making – or anti wine-making as his mate Wade describes it – is past doubt.
These accustomed to the South African trade will likely be all too properly conscious of the significance of the annual Platter Information – a who’s who of the trade and, most significantly, a 5 star score system protecting hundreds of the nation’s wines. In his brief profession flying solo, Craig has already picked up 2 coveted 5 star awards and a fistful of 4½ stars. I’m tempted to recommend that I ought to like to see what he might provide you with given the assets of a number of the larger gamers for whom funding capital by no means appears a problem however I worry that he’d wind up shedding the character that units him aside.
For those who haven’t but skilled the world of Elemental Bob, this pre-shipment supply is the proper alternative. We will be inserting an order by the center of July which ought to arrive finish September/early October. The extra we will order, the decrease the transport prices added to which, Craig has diminished costs to mirror the important state of the market in South Africa. The wines would possibly fly barely within the face of conference however there’ll by no means be a greater time to strive them.
Guidelines of engagement
No advance fee required, only a dedication to take the wines on arrival.
Minimal order 6 bottles which could be combined.
Order by phone 0121 227 6940 or e mail: gross sales@connollyswine.co.uk this supply is just not obtainable on-line.
Err………
That’s it.
The Wines
Purchase 6 Purchase 12
Cosmic Hand White Mix 2015 £14.50 £13.75
Platter 4.5* Tim Atkin 91/100
COSMIC HAND 2015 WHITE wine mix – 18 barrels
Viognier (Durbanville & Elgin) 34% : Chenin Blanc (Durbanville) 29% Verdelho (Bot river) 20% : Semillon (higher Hemel -en-Aarde Valley) 17%
‘A fancy nostril of citrus, apple, peach and apricot in addition to hay and spice plus a not disagreeable notice of discount Extraordinarily flavourful on the palate Not too lean or too thick in texture and possessing beautiful freshness – an actual succulence upfront earlier than a pleasant pithy high quality to the end’ – winemag 2016.
Retro Collection White Mix 2016 £12.90 £12.25 beforehand £17.60
Platter 4.5* Tim Atkin 93/100
RETRO SERIES WHITE 2016
Chenin Blanc 44% : Semillon 22% : Viognier 18% : Roussanne 11% ; Verdelho 5%,
3 days pores and skin ferment, at 20 balling, pressed to previous French barrel with lees, to complete alcoholic and mlf ferment. 10 months maturation, No fining.
Retro Collection Chenin Blanc 2016 £12.90 £12.25 beforehand £17.60
Platter 4* Tim Atkin 94/100
RETRO SERIES 2016 CHENIN BLANC
W.O. Western Cape (Darling, Wellington & Durbanville) Spontaneous fermentation, 3 days pores and skin ferment, at 18 balling, pressed to previous French barrel with lees, to complete alcoholic and mlf ferment. 10 months maturation, No fining.
Cosmic Flower Tinta Barocca 2017 £16.35 £15.50
Platter 5* Tim Atkin 93/100
The Graveyard Tinta Barocca
“Platter 2019 Wine of the Yr” 43 yr previous vines Stellenbosch. Lithe & fiesty, animated Pot-porri & orange zest bouquet with candy baking mud spicie.
Cosmic Flower Chardonnay 2017 £16.35 £15.50
Platter 4* Tim Atkin 94/100
Relaxation Your Head Chardonnay
33 yr previous vines. Toasty and nutty, wealthy with broad mid pallet. Considerable white and yellow fruit.
Cosmic Flower Chenin Blanc My Darling 2017 £16.35 £15.50
Platter 4* Tim Atkin 92/100
My Darling Chenin Blanc
35 Yr Outdated vines Darling. Fruit crammed, beneficiant yellow cling peaches & tangerine, recent orange, critical and properly rounded.
Cosmic Hand Cinsaut 2017 £14.50 £13.75
Platter 4* Tim Atkin 90/100
Costs are per bottle together with VAT
Somersault Cinsault
W.O. Stellenbosch. 25 yr previous bush vines. Energetic & savoury Not over difficult. Crimson fruits and dry spherical end .
*Including a South African accent to the pure wine motion is Craig Sheard, higher recognized to his pals and followers as Elemental Bob.
After tinkering away along with his personal challenge for a decade whereas holding down a day job with different wineries, 2015 is the primary classic the place portions have been large enough – 17 barrels of white and 10 of pink – to justify exploring export markets.
This growth has been aided by the regular growth of a extra receptive viewers for one of these minimal intervention winemaking. “Ten years in the past individuals didn’t actually perceive what I used to be doing,” remembers Sheard. “However then they wished to grasp the place their meals got here from and now it’s the identical for wine.”
“I would like my wines to indicate a little bit of soul,” muses the softly spoken Sheard, who is just not averse to attempting his hand at creating Madeira-style wines utilizing an incubator or drying grapes on his roof. “I don’t need scientific wines, however I don’t need defective wines both.”
With solely small portions produced and variable availability of sure vineyards, don’t anticipate to have the ability to monitor down the identical wine each classic. Trying forward, Sheard outlines plans for a barely completely different strategy, saying: “Finally after I discover the suitable place I need to make single winery wines – however a little bit left-field.”
Article printed 24 September 2015 on http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/09/10-cape-winemakers-to-watch/6/
