Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Motorcycle Marvel 2011: Garnet-deep red with translucence color; raspberry, cherry nose; raspberry, cherry, black olive, spice, touch of coffee, leather, meat on the palate;
there is kiss of fruity sweetness that evolves with air, some chocolate, too; silky tannin, good acidity (3.65 pH). Blend of grenache, carignan, shiraz, mourvèdre, cinsault, making it a Rhône-esque wine with South African edginess. Motorcycle Marvel honors winemaker Günter Brozel, cellarmaster at Nederburg from 1956-1989. Günter played key role in building Nederburg’s reputation as the most awarded winery in South Africa. A maverick with high standards, he coursed South Africa in a 250cc BSA motorcycle to ensure folks were meeting his demands. In 1985, Günter became the first South African to earn the International Wine & Spirits Competition “Winemaker of the Year” award. Today’s cellarmaster, Razvan Macici, follows in Günter’s heroic footsteps alongside viticulturist Unathi Mantshongo. Rich, full-bodied, pair with hearty red meat and attitude. $26
Second photo: Viticulturist Unathi Mantshongo
Nederburg website